CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Governor Jim Justice, the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the West Virginia National Guard have officially lifted the State of Emergency that was put in place in 2022 to address jail staffing shortages.
The West Virginia National Guard members who were helping alleviate staffing shortages at adult and juvenile correctional and detention facilities have completed their mission and have left all WV DCR facilities.
Governor Justice expressed his satisfaction with the collaborative efforts, stating, “As I have said from the beginning, we are going to pull the rope together, do what is necessary to address this situation and today I am here to tell you, we did just that. The Legislature, the West Virginia National Guard and the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation have gone all in and made these positions in our jails and prisons an option for a career for people that want to do more, for people that want to keep their communities safe. I could not be more proud of this team.”
During the State of Emergency, the West Virginia National Guard provided a total of 731 personnel for State Active Duty assignment in 17 different facilities across the state. The highest number of personnel serving the corrections mission at any one time was 422, including the management team located at Joint Forces Headquarters.
As a result of the efforts, 38 service members who served during the activation have chosen to pursue a career with DCR, with 32 becoming full-time employees and six serving in a temporary status. New hires at DCR facilities will benefit from increased pay scales for correctional officers, and retention incentives for non-uniform correctional staff.
Maj. Gen. Bill Crane, the Adjutant General of West Virginia, commended the Guardsmen for their support, stating, “Our Guardsmen volunteered and stepped up providing assistance to the Department of Corrections and their efforts have been instrumental in helping keep our state’s correctional facilities safe, secure, and working fluidly. I am proud of the work they accomplished as a part of this mission and the dedication they have shown to their fellow West Virginians to assist in times of need.”
The WV DCR has strengthened its recruiting and training initiatives, offering higher pay scales for correctional officers , resulting in a significant reduction in vacant positions. Since January 2024, the WV DCR has welcomed 238 graduates from the Corrections Academy, with an additional 47 new Cadets beginning their training at the Academy on May 13, 2024.
Commissioner William Marshall expressed gratitude for the assistance of the West Virginia National Guard, saying, “We appreciate their dedication to public safety and the State of West Virginia.”
The WV DCR oversees West Virginia’s 11 prisons, 10 regional jails, 10 juvenile centers, 13 Parole Services Offices, 22 Youth Reporting Centers, and three work-release sites. For more information, visit the DCR website.
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