Criminal Legal System

May 27, 2025 by Sara Whitaker
Court Watch: There is Always Money for Jails and Prisons, but Not for Lawyers

At the end of 2024, Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Maryclaire Akers made a notable request to local lawyers. In a message circulated by the West Virginia State Bar, Judge Akers described a “crisis” brewing in Kanawha County courtrooms: there were not enough lawyers willing to accept court appointments. In tens of thousands of cases…

Read More
April 25, 2025 by Sara Whitaker
Morrisey Signs Bill into Law Increasing Criminal Penalties for Drug Dealers in WV

West Virginia Watch - Gov. Patrick Morrisey on Thursday signed into law a bill to drastically increase criminal penalties for dealing and transporting certain types of drugs in West Virginia. Read the full article. Senate Bill 196 — dubbed Lauren’s Law in honor of a Morgantown woman who died in 2020 after accidentally overdosing on drugs…

Read More
December 31, 2024 by Sara Whitaker
A Step Toward Incarceration Accountability?

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…

Read More
December 5, 2024 by Sara Whitaker
A Step Toward DCR Accountability?

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. On Monday, the agency released a new policy that allows people behind bars to submit their grievances electronically. A…

Read More