- West Virginia corrections staffing remains at crisis level (The Intelligencer, 4/17/2023)
- The Legislative Oversight Committee on Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority met Sunday to hear testimony from officials at the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitations, who reported an employee vacancy rate of 1,022. The state has a 32% vacancy rate for correctional officers, with some facilities experiencing rates as high as 70%. In August 2022, Gov. Jim Justice declared the vacancy issue a state of emergency and deployed National Guard members to assist in prison facilities.
- West Virginia DHHR working on plans to keep disabled out of state hospitals (The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, 5/8/2023)
- Officials from the Department of Health and Human Resources testified before the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability on May 7th. Lawmakers, advocates, and the press have recently brought attention to the number of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities being held for long periods in West Virginia’s two state-run psychiatric hospitals, which are generally meant for patients having short-term mental health issues. The Legislature created a study group this session to help divert these admissions, DHHR has said they will present lawmakers with recommendations to resolve the problem by the end of 2023.
- WV legislative interims: Drug court and home confinement reviewed (The Morgan Messenger, 5/10/2023)
- During the West Virginia Legislature’s Oversight Committee on Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority’s final day of May Interim Sessions, Judge Gregory Howard discussed the state’s Adult Drug Court program as a tool to divert non-violent offenders with substance abuse problems from incarceration to rehabilitation. The program, present in approximately 30 locations, offers intense supervision and rehabilitation services supervised by a judicial officer. Cabell County Prosecuting Attorney Sean Hammers also addressed the committee, highlighting the use of home confinement and day reporting centers as alternatives to traditional incarceration for non-violent offenders, emphasizing the effectiveness of monitoring and community service in rehabilitation efforts.
- Death certificate delays discussed in West Virginia legislative meeting (WV Public Broadcasting, 8/9/2023)
- Families are experiencing lengthy waits of up to two years for death certificates from West Virginia’s state Medical Examiner’s office due to severe staffing shortages and limited space. Dr. Sherri Young, the Secretary of the Department of Health, highlighted these issues during a Legislative Oversight Committee meeting. With only three autopsy tables available, the office struggles to manage multiple cases simultaneously, leading to delays. Immediate plans include in-house lab work and targeted exams for faster processing, while long-term solutions involve facility expansion and increased staffing to address the shortage of medical examiners. Currently, the state has just three medical examiners despite a need for twelve.
- West Virginia Division of Corrections vacancies dip below 1,000 for first time since COVID (The Intelligencer, 10/17/2023)
- The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials have stated that it’s too early to determine the impact of funding aimed at recruiting and retaining correctional officers, but they have observed a decrease in vacancy numbers. William Marshall, the commissioner, reported to the Legislative Oversight Committee on Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority that vacancies across the state’s correctional facilities are now below 990, down from a peak of 1,100 during a state of emergency in August 2022. The state, grappling with overcrowding, has allocated funds and renewed agreements, but it is also facing a class action lawsuit over issues including funding levels, overcrowding, staffing, and prison conditions.
- ‘No bones about it:’ Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is overworked and understaffed, says administrator (WV News,10/17/2023)
- West Virginia’s Chief Medical Examiner testified before the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability that the office is overworked and understaffed, with an average of 240 days to complete autopsy reports, leading to a backlog of more than 300 pending cases, some dating back a year. The office has five full-time forensic pathologists and relies on eight temporary physicians, equivalent to 6.5 full-time employees, far below the necessary 12 pathologists required to handle the caseload. The state’s limited pool of forensic pathologists, coupled with an aging workforce and insufficient facilities, contributes to the challenges faced by the office.
- West Virginia DHHR officials address controversies during interim meetings in Wheeling (The Intelligencer, 11/13/2023)
- The Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability in West Virginia convened to address concerns related to the Department of Health and Human Resources including an indicted employee, alleged email deletions, and the arrest of a couple keeping children in cages. Lawmakers questioned incoming cabinet secretaries about issues such as a federal indictment against Timothy Priddy, director of DHHR’s Center for Threat Preparedness, and a pending federal class action lawsuit regarding the state’s foster care system. The meeting also touched on background checks for staff at state-owned hospitals, with lawmakers seeking clarification on a recent arrest of a contract nurse at William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital near Weston.
- Sober living homes in West Virginia face challenges, but state lawmakers are focused on more oversight (Mountain State Spotlight, 12/7/2023)
- Despite state and federal recognition of the crucial role of sober living residences in addressing the opioid crisis, residents face challenges such as a shortage of certified homes and funding issues. The Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability is set to discuss recovery residences and hear from a sober living task force. However, advocates and officials are concerned about the legislative approach, which appears to focus more on insurance fraud and accountability than strategies to combat the state’s opioid crisis.
- West Virginia lawmakers receive update on science of reading efforts (The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, 12/11/2023)
- The West Virginia Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability received updates on the state’s new science of reading program and fall benchmark tests during a committee meeting. Sonya White, deputy superintendent of the state Department of Education, stated that students in kindergarten through third grades who needed literacy intervention will likely show improvements in the next round of testing this winter, despite learning gaps due to the pandemic. White also discussed the success of House Bill 3035, known as the Third Grade Success Act, which mandates screeners, benchmark assessments, and support systems for K-3 students, with other states expressing interest.
- West Virginia VOAD under fire for hiring practices, use of donations (News and Sentinel, 1/8/2024)
- West Virginia Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding called for an investigation and audit into the non-profit organization West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), which is frequently activated for flood relief in the state. Lawmakers expressed concerns about the appropriate use of funds allocated to VOAD and raised allegations of improper actions by the organization, such as the hiring of family members and the personal use of donated items by VOAD Executive Director Jenny Gannaway. Sen. Eric Tarr recommended a thorough investigation by the Legislature’s Commission on Special Investigations, the Legislative Auditor, and the measure was approved unanimously.
- Health committee advances bills meant to enhance oversight (Metro News, 1/11/2024)
- The House Committee on Health and Human Resources has advanced two bills aimed at improving oversight. One bill, HB 4595, allows a legislative oversight committee to meet privately for sensitive matters like child protective services investigations, with the goal of providing lawmakers access to information for timely policy adjustments without compromising transparency. Another bill, HB 4593, requires open meetings for the nonprofit West Virginia First Foundation, responsible for distributing opioid lawsuit proceeds, ensuring transparent decision-making for the significant funds involved in addressing the opioid crisis.
- House Committee Approves Changes To West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Legislative Auditor’s Office (The Intelligencer, 3/11/2024)
- Changes were approved to the oversight of West Virginia Public Broadcasting and the Legislative Auditor’s Office by the House Government Organization Committee. Senate Bill 687 alters the authority of the Legislative Auditor, placing them under the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, with control by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate. The bill eliminates fixed audit schedules, allows more discretion in audits, and removes certain reporting requirements, raising concerns about transparency and legislative oversight.
- Long-term care patient’s death from scalding whirlpool raises more oversight questions (Metro News, 3/18/2024)
- An elderly, nonverbal man died after being left unattended in a hot whirlpool at Hopemont Hospital, a state-run facility, raising questions about oversight and care quality. Disability Rights West Virginia reported that the patient, who had dementia, suffered burns in the incident, which involved water temperatures exceeding 134 degrees. Lawmakers, including House Health Committee Chairwoman Amy Summers, have highlighted the need for more specific information and increased legislative oversight to prevent similar tragedies and ensure accountability in long-term care facilities.
- Officials says National Guard will be out of West Virginia jails soon (West Virginia Watch, 4/15/2024)
- West Virginia officials announced to the Legislative Oversight Committee on Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority that the National Guard are being withdrawn from the state’s jails, with only 80 members remaining compared to 413 in January. The state’s Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation has significantly improved recruitment, hiring 291 correctional officers and 49 non-uniformed staff members since January. Faced with longstanding issues with understaffing, the state has made legislative efforts to address these problems, including raising pay scales and offering bonuses to jail staff.
- National Guard no longer staffing state’s jails and prisons, official says (West Virginia Watch, 5/21/2024)
- The West Virginia National Guard has ceased staffing the state’s jails and prisons, following a state of emergency over staffing shortages. This change comes after lawmakers approved legislation to address issues like understaffing and overcrowding by increasing pay and offering bonuses to correctional officers. With improvements in employee retention rates and ongoing efforts to address overcapacity, the state anticipates lifting the emergency status soon.
- Special Session On Homeschool Oversight Possible After Death Of Boone County Teen (WV Public Broadcasting, 6/7/2024)
- In the wake of the death of a Boone County teenager who was being homeschooled, state lawmakers are considering a special session to address oversight of homeschooling, aiming to ensure educational standards and child welfare protections are adequately met, amid concerns about the current lack of regulation and monitoring in the state’s homeschooling practices.
