HOUSE RESOLUTION 25

(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Martin, Varner, Davis, Pettit, Givens, Ennis, Hutchins, Tucker,

Pethtel and L. White)



Supporting the transition of the former West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville into the National Corrections and Law-Enforcement Training and Technology Center.

Whereas, In 1997, the West Virginia Division of Corrections decided to utilize the former State Penitentiary at Moundsville for the training of correctional officers of the Northern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility; and
Whereas , It is vital for our correctional and law enforcement officers to be properly prepared for unexpected situations, such as prison riots, hostage situations and contraband confiscation which can, and do, occur in correctional facilities; and
Whereas, The use of a facility such as the former State Penitentiary provides a realistic environment for such training exercises without the presence of prisoners; and
Whereas, The center could provide for the testing and marketing of law enforcement technology used within a prison environment and could provide correctional and law enforcement officers proper training and education in modern prison technology; and
Whereas, Using the former State Penitentiary as the National Corrections and Law-Enforcement Training and Technology Center is supported by the Office of Law-Enforcement Technology Commercialization and the National Institute of Justice, along with leaders in the commercialization of technology for corrections and law enforcement; and
Whereas, Such a facility as the former State Penitentiary for training would not only be utilized by correctional officers within West Virginia, but also from around the nation; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the House of Delegates supports the transition of the former West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville into the National Corrections and Law-Enforcement Training and Technology Center which would provide a realistic environment to train and educate our correctional and law enforcement officers from West Virginia and throughout the nation; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the West Virginia Division of Corrections and the National Corrections and Law-Enforcement Training and Technology Center in Moundsville, West Virginia.