Spirit of Jefferson – If we want to understand what is happening in West Virginia jails and prisons, we must listen to the people inside them. The Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) has taken a step in that direction.
Read the full op-ed.
On Monday, the agency released a new policy that allows people behind bars to submit their grievances electronically. A grievance is a formal, written complaint made to DCR management about unfair treatment or some other wrong experienced behind bars.
Grievances can cover every aspect of a person’s life inside a facility: neglectful medical care; rotten or spoiled food; denial of hygiene supplies or menstrual products; broken toilets and showers; and more. Some grievances may report crimes like physical or sexual assault, or violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act or Prison Rape Elimination Act.
