West Virginia Code

WVC 62-12-1 §62-12-1. Courts having authority to place offenders on probation.
Any circuit court of this state shall have authority as provided in this article to place on probation any person convicted of a crime.

WVC 62 - 12 - 2 §62-12-2. Eligibility for probation.
(a) All persons who are found guilty of or plead guilty to any felony, the maximum penalty for which is less than life imprisonment, and all persons who are found guilty of or plead guilty to any misdemeanor, shall be eligible for probation, notwithstanding the provisions of sections eighteen and nineteen, article eleven, chapter sixty-one of this code.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section to the contrary notwithstanding, any person who commits or attempts to commit a felony with the use, presentment or brandishing of a firearm shall be ineligible for probation. Nothing in this section shall apply to an accessory before the fact or a principal in the second degree who has been convicted as if he or she were a principal in the first degree if, in the commission of or in the attempted commission of the felony, only the principal in the first degree used, presented or brandished a firearm.

(c)(1) The existence of any fact which would make any person ineligible for probation under subsection (b) of this section because of the commission or attempted commission of a felony with the use, presentment or brandishing of a firearm shall not be applicable unless such fact is clearly stated and included in the indictment or presentment by which such person is charged and is either: (i) Found by the court upon a plea of guilty or nolo contendere; or (ii) found by the jury, if the matter be tried before a jury, upon submitting to such jury a special interrogatory for such purpose; or (iii) found by the court, if the matter be tried by the court, without a jury.

(2) The amendments to this subsection adopted in the year one thousand nine hundred eighty-one:

(A) Shall apply to all applicable offenses occurring on or after the first day of August of that year;

(B) Shall apply with respect to the contents of any indictment or presentment returned on or after the first day of August of that year irrespective of when the offense occurred;

(C) Shall apply with respect to the submission of a special interrogatory to the jury and the finding to be made thereon in any case submitted to such jury on or after the first day of August of that year or to the requisite findings of the court upon a plea of guilty or in any case tried without a jury: Provided, That the state shall give notice in writing of its intent to seek such finding by the jury or court, as the case may be, which notice shall state with particularity the grounds upon which such finding shall be sought as fully as such grounds are otherwise required to be stated in an indictment, unless the grounds therefor are alleged in the indictment or presentment upon which the matter is being tried;

(D) Shall not apply with respect to cases not affected by such amendment and in such cases the prior provisions of this section shall apply and be construed without reference to such amendment; and

Insofar as such amendments relate to mandatory sentences without probation, all such matters requiring such sentence shall be proved beyond a reasonable doubt in all cases tried by the jury or the court.

(d) For the purpose of this section, the term "firearm" shall mean any instrument which will, or is designed to, or may readily be converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, gunpowder, or any other similar means.

(e) In the case of any person who has been found guilty of, or pleaded guilty to, a violation of the provisions of section twelve, article eight, chapter sixty-one of this code, the provisions of article eight-c or eight-b of said chapter, or under the provisions of section five, article eight-d of said chapter, such person shall only be eligible for probation after undergoing a physical, mental and psychiatric study and diagnosis which shall include an on-going treatment plan requiring active participation in sexual abuse counseling at a mental health facility or through some other approved program: Provided, That nothing disclosed by the person during such study or diagnosis shall be made available to any law-enforcement agency, or other party without that person's consent, or admissible in any court of this state, unless such information disclosed shall indicate the intention or plans of the probationer to do harm to any person, animal, institution or property, in which case such information may be released only to such persons as might be necessary for protection of the said person, animal, institution or property.

Within ninety days of the effective date of this section as amended and reenacted during the first extraordinary session of the Legislature, two thousand six, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources shall propose rules and emergency rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code establishing qualifications for sex offender treatment programs and counselors based on accepted treatment protocols among licensed mental health professionals.

(f) Any person who has been convicted of a violation of the provisions of article eight-b, eight-c or sections five and six, article eight-d, chapter sixty-one of this code, or of section fourteen, article two, or of sections twelve and thirteen, article eight, chapter sixty-one of this code, or of a felony violation involving a minor of section six or seven, article eight, chapter sixty-one of this code, or of a similar provision in another jurisdiction shall be required to be registered upon release on probation. Any person who has been convicted of an attempt to commit any of the offenses set forth in this subsection shall also be registered upon release on probation.

(g) The probation officer shall within three days of release of the offender, send written notice to the State Police of the release of the offender. The notice shall include:

(1) The full name of the person;

(2) The address where the person shall reside;

(3) The person's social security number;

(4) A recent photograph of the person;

(5) A brief description of the crime for which the person was convicted;

(6) Fingerprints; and

(7) For any person determined to be a sexually violent predator as defined in section two-a, article twelve, chapter fifteen of this code, the notice shall also include:

(i) Identifying factors, including physical characteristics;

(ii) History of the offense; and

(iii) Documentation of any treatment received for the mental abnormality or personality disorder.

WVC 62-12-3 §62-12-3. Suspension of sentence and release on probation.
Whenever, upon the conviction of any person eligible for probation under the preceding section, it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court that the character of the offender and the circumstances of the case indicate that he is not likely again to commit crime and that the public good does not require that he be fined or imprisoned, the court, upon application or of its own motion, may suspend the imposition or execution of sentence and release the offender on probation for such period and upon such conditions as are provided by this article; but in no case, except as provided by the following section, shall the court have authority to suspend the execution of a sentence after the convicted person has been imprisoned for sixty days under the sentence. Any person released on probation must participate as a condition of probation in the litter control program of the county to the extent directed by the court, unless the court specifically finds that this alternative service would be inappropriate.

WVC 62-12-4 §62-12-4. Probation of offenders convicted in courts other than courts of record.
Whenever any person is found guilty of, or pleads guilty to, a crime in a court which is not a court of record, he may, at any time thereafter, file with the court of record to which an appeal would lie, or with the judge thereof in vacation, his petition in writing, together with a transcript of the docket of the court in which he was convicted, requesting that he be placed on probation. Upon the filing of such petition and transcript, said court of record or the judge thereof, shall have power to suspend the execution of the sentence of the lower court and to release the petitioner on probation upon such conditions as to said court or judge may seem fitting.

WVC 62 - 12 - 5 §62-12-5. Probation officers and assistants.
(a) Each circuit court, subject to the approval of the Supreme Court of Appeals and in accordance with its rules, is authorized to appoint one or more probation officers and clerical assistants.

(b) The appointment of probation officers and clerical assistants shall be in writing and entered on the order book of the court by the judge making such appointment and a copy of said order of appointment shall be delivered to the Administrative Director of the Supreme Court of Appeals. The order of appointment shall state the monthly salary, fixed by the judge and approved by the Supreme Court of Appeals, to be paid to the probation officer or clerical assistants so appointed.

(c) The salary of probation officers and clerical assistants shall be paid monthly or semimonthly, as the Supreme Court of Appeals by rule may direct and they shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the line of duty in the field. The salary and expenses shall be paid by the state from the judicial accounts thereof. The county commission shall provide adequate office space for the probation officer and his or her assistants to be approved by the appointing court. The equipment and supplies as may be needed by the probation officer and his or her assistants shall be provided by the state and the cost thereof shall be charged against the judicial accounts of the state.

(d) No judge may appoint any probation officer, assistant probation officer or clerical assistant who is related to him or her either by consanguinity or affinity.

(e) Subject to the approval of the Supreme Court of Appeals and in accordance with its rules, a judge of a circuit court whose circuit comprises more than one county may appoint a probation officer and a clerical assistant in each county of the circuit or may appoint the same persons to serve in these respective positions in two or more counties in the circuit.

(f) Nothing contained in this section alters, modifies, affects or supersedes the appointment or tenure of any probation officer, medical assistant or psychiatric assistant appointed by any court under any special act of the Legislature heretofore enacted, and the salary or compensation of those persons shall remain as specified in the most recent amendment of any special act until changed by the court, with approval of the Supreme Court of Appeals, by order entered of record, and any such salary or compensation shall be paid out of the State Treasury.

(g) In order to carry out the supervision responsibilities set forth in section twenty-six, article twelve, chapter sixty-two of this code, the Administrative Director of the Supreme Court of Appeals, or his or her designee, in accordance with the court's procedures, is authorized to hire multijudicial-circuit probation officers, to be employed through the court's Division of Probation Services. Such officers may also supervise probationers who are on probation for sexual offences with the approval of the administrative director of the Supreme Court of Appeals or his or her designee. WVC 62-12-5a §62-12-5a.
Repealed.

Acts, 1975 Reg. Sess., Ch. 126.

WVC 62 - 12 - 6 §62-12-6. Powers and duties of probation officers.
(a) Each probation officer shall investigate all cases which the court refers to the officer for investigation and shall report in writing on each case. The probation officer shall furnish to each person released on probation under the officer's supervision a written statement of the probationer's conditions of probation together with a copy of the rules prescribed by the court for the supervision of probationers. The probation officer shall stay informed concerning the conduct and condition of each probationer under the officer's supervision and shall report on the conduct and condition of each probationer in writing as often as the court requires. The probation officer shall use all practicable and suitable methods to aid and encourage the probationer to improve his or her conduct and condition. The probation officer shall maintain detailed work records and shall perform any other duties the court requires. The probation officer has authority, with or without an order or warrant, to arrest any probationer as provided in section ten of this article, and to arrest any person on supervised release when there is reasonable cause to believe that the person on supervised release has violated a condition of release. A person on supervised release so arrested shall be brought before the court for a prompt and summary hearing.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary:

(1) Any probation officer appointed on or after July 1, 2002, may carry handguns in the course of the officer's official duties after meeting specialized qualifications established by the Governor's Committee on Crime, Delinquency and Correction, which qualifications shall include the successful completion of handgun training, including a minimum of four hours' training in handgun safety and comparable to the handgun training provided to law-enforcement officers by the West Virginia State Police.

(2) Probation officers may only carry handguns in the course of their official duties after meeting the specialized qualifications set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(3) Nothing in this subsection includes probation officers within the meaning of law-enforcement officers as defined in section one, article twenty-nine, chapter thirty of this code.

WVC 62-12-7 §62-12-7. Preliminary investigation; report on prospective probationers.
When directed by the court, the probation officer shall make a careful investigation of, and a written report with recommendations concerning, any prospective probationer. Insofar as practicable this report shall include information concerning the offender's court and criminal record, occupation, family background, education, habits and associations, mental and physical condition, the names, relationship, ages and condition of those dependent upon him for support and such other facts as may aid the court in determining the propriety and conditions of his release on probation. No person convicted of a felony or of any offense described in article eight-b or eight-d, chapter sixty-one of this code against a minor child may be released on probation until this report shall have been presented to and considered by the court. The court may in its discretion request such a report concerning any person convicted of a misdemeanor. The presentence report of any person convicted of an offense, described in said articles or section twelve, article eight of said chapter, may include a statement from a therapist, psychologist or physician who is providing treatment to the child. A copy of all reports shall be filed with the board of probation and parole.

WVC 62-12-7a §62-12-7a. Presentence diagnosis and classification; power of court; custody of convicted person; provision for presentence reports; penalty for escape.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when any person has been found guilty of, or pleads guilty to, a felony, or any offense described in article eight-d or eight-b, chapter sixty-one of this code, against a minor child, the court may, prior to pronouncing of sentence, direct that the person be delivered into the custody of the commissioner of corrections, for the purpose of diagnosis and classification for a period not to exceed sixty days: Provided, That the court shall require that a presentence report be completed by the probation officer assigned to that person and be made available to the commissioner of corrections prior to delivery of the person to a statutorily approved diagnosis and classification unit of the division of corrections. While at the diagnosis and classification unit the person shall undergo examination, diagnosis and classification and shall then be remanded and delivered to the custody of the sheriff of the county wherein he or she was found guilty or entered such plea. Within ten days following the termination of the examination, diagnosis and classification, the commissioner of corrections shall make or cause to be made a report to the court wherein the person was found guilty, or entered a plea of guilty, containing the results, findings, conclusions and recommendations of the commissioner with respect to such person.

Whenever a person is remanded into the custody of the commissioner of corrections pursuant to this section, the person shall be given credit on any sentence subsequently imposed by the court equal to the time spent in such custody.

WVC 62-12-8 §62-12-8. Record of order as to release on probation.
Orders granting or refusing release on probation shall contain a brief statement by the court of the reasons for its action and shall be entered of record. A copy of all orders granting release on probation, of all orders refusing such release in felony cases, and of all orders revoking any previous order shall be sent by the clerk of the court to the board of probation and parole within five days after the making of the order.

WVC 62 - 12 - 9 §62-12-9. Conditions of release on probation.
(a) Release on probation is conditioned upon the following:

(1) That the probationer may not, during the term of his or her probation, violate any criminal law of this or any other state or of the United States;

(2) That he or she may not, during the term of his or her probation, leave the state without the consent of the court which placed him or her on probation;

(3) That he or she complies with the conditions prescribed by the court for his or her supervision by the probation officer;

(4) That in every case wherein the probationer has been convicted of an offense defined in section twelve, article eight, chapter sixty-one of this code or article eight-b or eight-d of said chapter, against a child, the probationer may not live in the same residence as any minor child, nor exercise visitation with any minor child and has no contact with the victim of the offense: Provided, That the probationer may petition the court of the circuit wherein he or she was convicted for a modification of this term and condition of his or her probation and the burden rests upon the probationer to demonstrate that a modification is in the best interest of the child;

(5) That the probationer be required to pay a fee, not to exceed twenty dollars per month to defray costs of supervision: Provided, That the court conducts a hearing prior to imposition of probation and makes a determination on the record that the offender is able to pay the fee without undue hardship. All moneys collected as fees from probationers pursuant to this subdivision are to be deposited with the circuit clerk who shall, on a monthly basis, remit the moneys collected to the state treasurer for deposit in the state general revenue fund; and

(6) That the probationer is required to pay the fee described in section four, article eleven-c of this chapter: Provided, That the court conducts a hearing prior to imposition of probation and makes a determination on the record that the offender is able to pay the fee without undue hardship.

(b) In addition the court may impose, subject to modification at any time, any other conditions which it may deem advisable, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(1) That he or she make restitution or reparation, in whole or in part, immediately or within the period of probation, to any party injured by the crime for which he or she has been convicted: Provided, That the court conducts a hearing prior to imposition of probation and makes a determination on the record that the offender is able to pay restitution without undue hardship;

(2) That he or she pay any fine assessed and the costs of the proceeding in installments as the court may direct: Provided, That the court conducts a hearing prior to imposition of probation and makes a determination on the record that the offender is able to pay the costs without undue hardship;

(3) That he or she make contribution from his or her earnings, in sums as the court may direct, for the support of his or her dependents; and

(4) That he or she, in the discretion of the court, be required to serve a period of confinement in the county jail of the county in which he or she was convicted for a period not to exceed one third of the minimum sentence established by law or one third of the least possible period of confinement in an indeterminate sentence, but in no case may the period of confinement exceed six consecutive months. The court has the authority to sentence the defendant within the six-month period to intermittent periods of confinement including, but not limited to, weekends or holidays and may grant to the defendant intermittent periods of release in order that he or she may work at his or her employment or for other reasons or purposes as the court may deem appropriate: Provided, That the provisions of article eleven-a of this chapter do not apply to intermittent periods of confinement and release except to the extent that the court may direct. If a period of confinement is required as a condition of probation, the court shall make special findings that other conditions of probation are inadequate and that a period of confinement is necessary.

WVC 62-12-10 §62-12-10. Violation of probation.
If at any time during the period of probation there shall be reasonable cause to believe that the probationer has violated any of the conditions of his probation, the probation officer may arrest him with or without an order or warrant, or the court which placed him on probation, or the judge thereof in vacation, may issue an order for his arrest, whereupon he shall be brought before the court, or the judge thereof in vacation, for a prompt and summary hearing. If it shall then appear to the satisfaction of the court or judge that any condition of probation has been violated, the court or judge may revoke the suspension of imposition or execution of sentence, impose sentence if none has been imposed, and order that sentence be executed. In computing the period for which the offender is to be imprisoned, the time between his release on probation and his arrest shall not be taken to be any part of the term of his sentence. If, despite a violation of the conditions of probation, the court or judge shall be of the opinion that the interests of justice do not require that the probationer serve his sentence, the court or judge may, except when the violation was the commission of a felony, again release him on probation.

WVC 62-12-11 §62-12-11. Probation period.
The period of probation together with any extension thereof shall not exceed five years. Upon the termination of the probation period, the probation officer shall report to the court the conduct of the probationer during the period of his probation, and the court may thereupon discharge the probationer or extend the probation period. Whenever, before the end of the probation period the probationer has satisfactorily complied with all the conditions of his probation and it appears to the court that it is no longer necessary to continue his supervision, the court may discharge him. All orders extending the probation period and all orders of discharge shall be entered in the records of the court, and a copy of all such orders shall be sent by the clerk of the court to the board within five days after the making of the order.

WVC 62 - 12 - 12 §62-12-12. Parole Board generally.

(a) The West Virginia Parole Board is continued. The board shall consist of nine members, each of whom shall have been a resident of this state for at least five consecutive years prior to his or her appointment. No more than five of the board members may at any one time belong to the same political party. The board shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(b) Appointments shall be made in such a manner that each congressional district is represented and so that no more than four and no less than two members of the board reside in any one congressional district. No more than two members of the board may reside in any one county.

(c) Any person initially appointed to the board on or after July 1, 2012, shall have a degree from an accredited college or university or at least five years of actual experience in the fields of corrections, law enforcement, sociology, law, education, psychology, social work, medicine or a combination thereof and shall be otherwise competent to perform the duties of his or her office. The members shall be appointed for overlapping terms of six years. Members are eligible for reappointment. The members of the board shall devote their full time and attention to their board duties. The Governor shall appoint one of the nine appointed members to serve as chairperson at the Governor's will and pleasure. WVC 62 - 12 - 12 A §62-12-12a. Parole board panels.
(a) The board shall sit in panels of three members for the purpose of conducting hearings and making determinations concerning the release of any inmate on parole, conducting hearings and making determinations regarding the revocation of parole, considering any eligible parolee for release from further supervision and discharge from parole, conducting parole interviews and conducting any other hearing provided for in this article. Membership on each panel shall be appointed on a rotating basis by the chairperson of the board. Two members of each panel shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of official business.

(b) When the board sits in panels as herein authorized, each panel shall act in the same manner and under the same authority as the full board. All authority, duties, powers and responsibilities of the board on any matter brought before the panel for hearing shall be exercised by the panel as though heard and decided by the full board. Decisions of each panel shall constitute a decision of the board. All procedures of the board relating to the conduct of hearings shall apply to hearings before the panels of the board.

WVC 62 - 12 - 13 §62-12-13. Powers and duties of board; eligibility for parole; procedure for granting parole.
(a) The board of parole, whenever it is of the opinion that the best interests of the state and of the inmate will be served, and subject to the limitations hereinafter provided, shall release any inmate on parole for terms and upon conditions as are provided by this article.

(b) Any inmate of a state correctional center is eligible for parole if he or she:

(1)(A) Has served the minimum term of his or her indeterminate sentence or has served one fourth of his or her definite term sentence, as the case may be; or

(B) He or she:

(i) Has applied for and been accepted by the Commissioner of Corrections into an accelerated parole program;

(ii) Does not have a prior criminal conviction for a felony crime of violence against the person, a felony offense involving the use of a firearm, or a felony offense where the victim was a minor child;

(iii) Has no record of institutional disciplinary rule violations for a period of one hundred twenty days prior to parole consideration unless the requirement is waived by the commissioner;

(iv) Is not serving a sentence for a crime of violence against the person, or more than one felony for a controlled substance offense for which the inmate is serving a consecutive sentence, a felony offense involving the use of a firearm, or a felony offence where the victim was a minor child; and

(v) Has successfully completed a rehabilitation treatment program created with the assistance of a standardized risk and needs assessment;

(I) As used in this section "felony crime of violence against the person" means felony offenses set forth in articles two, three- e, eight-b or eight-d of chapter sixty-one of this code; and

(II) As used in this section "felony offense where the victim was a minor child" means any felony crime of violence against the person and any felony violation set forth in article eight, eight- a, eight-c or eight-d of chapter sixty-one of this code.

(C) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, any person who committed, or attempted to commit a felony with the use, presentment or brandishing of a firearm, is not eligible for parole prior to serving a minimum of three years of his or her sentence or the maximum sentence imposed by the court, whichever is less: Provided, That any person who committed, or attempted to commit, any violation of section twelve, article two, chapter sixty-one of this code, with the use, presentment or brandishing of a firearm, is not eligible for parole prior to serving a minimum of five years of his or her sentence or one third of his or her definite term sentence, whichever is greater. Nothing in this paragraph applies to an accessory before the fact or a principal in the second degree who has been convicted as if he or she were a principal in the first degree if, in the commission of or in the attempted commission of the felony, only the principal in the first degree used, presented or brandished a firearm. A person is not ineligible for parole under the provisions of this paragraph because of the commission or attempted commission of a felony with the use, presentment or brandishing of a firearm unless that fact is clearly stated and included in the indictment or presentment by which the person was charged and was either: (i) Found by the court at the time of trial upon a plea of guilty or nolo contendere; (ii) found by the jury, upon submitting to the jury a special interrogatory for such purpose if the matter was tried before a jury; or (iii) found by the court, if the matter was tried by the court without a jury.

For the purpose of this section, the term "firearm" means any instrument which will, or is designed to, or may readily be converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, gunpowder or any other similar means.

(D) The amendments to this subsection adopted in the year 1981:

(i) Apply to all applicable offenses occurring on or after August 1 of that year;

(ii) Apply with respect to the contents of any indictment or presentment returned on or after August 1 of that year irrespective of when the offense occurred;

(iii) Apply with respect to the submission of a special interrogatory to the jury and the finding to be made thereon in any case submitted to the jury on or after August 1 of that year or to the requisite findings of the court upon a plea of guilty or in any case tried without a jury: Provided, That the state gives notice in writing of its intent to seek such finding by the jury or court, as the case may be, which notice shall state with particularity the grounds upon which the finding will be sought as fully as such grounds are otherwise required to be stated in an indictment, unless the grounds therefor are alleged in the indictment or presentment upon which the matter is being tried; and

(iv) Does not apply with respect to cases not affected by the amendments and in such cases the prior provisions of this section apply and are construed without reference to the amendments.

(1) Insofar as the amendments relate to mandatory sentences restricting the eligibility for parole, all matters requiring a mandatory sentence shall be proved beyond a reasonable doubt in all cases tried by the jury or the court;

(2) Is not in punitive segregation or administrative segregation as a result of disciplinary action;

(3) Has maintained a record of good conduct in prison for a period of at least three months immediately preceding the date of his or her release on parole;

(4) Has prepared and submitted to the board a written parole release plan setting forth proposed plans for his or her place of residence, employment and, if appropriate, his or her plans regarding education and post-release counseling and treatment. The Commissioner of Corrections or his or her designee shall review the plan to be reviewed and investigated and provide recommendations to the board as to the suitability of the plan: Provided, That in cases in which there is a mandatory thirty-day notification period required prior to the release of the inmate, pursuant to section twenty-three of this article, the board may conduct an initial interview and deny parole without requiring the development of a plan. In the event the board does not believe parole should be denied, it may defer a final decision pending completion of an investigation and receipt of recommendations. Upon receipt of the plan together with the investigation and recommendation, the board, through a panel, shall make a final decision regarding the granting or denial of parole; and

(5) Has satisfied the board that if released on parole he or she will not constitute a danger to the community.

(c) Except in the case of a person serving a life sentence, no person who has been previously twice convicted of a felony may be released on parole until he or she has served the minimum term provided by law for the crime for which he or she was convicted. A person sentenced for life may not be paroled until he or she has served ten years, and a person sentenced for life who has been previously twice convicted of a felony may not be paroled until he or she has served fifteen years: Provided, That a person convicted of first degree murder for an offense committed on or after June 10, 1994, is not eligible for parole until he or she has served fifteen years.

(d) In the case of a person sentenced to any state correctional center, it is the duty of the board, as soon as a person becomes eligible, to consider the advisability of his or her release on parole.

(e) If, upon consideration, parole is denied, the board shall promptly notify the inmate of the denial. The board shall, at the time of denial, notify the inmate of the month and year he or she may apply for reconsideration and review. The board shall at least once a year reconsider and review the case of every inmate who was denied parole and is still eligible: Provided, That the board may reconsider and review parole eligibility anytime within three years following the denial of parole of an inmate serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole.

(f) Any person serving a sentence on a felony conviction who becomes eligible for parole consideration prior to being transferred to a state correctional center may make written application for parole. The terms and conditions for parole consideration established by this article apply to such inmates.

(g) The board shall, with the approval of the Governor, adopt rules governing the procedure in the granting of parole. No provision of this article and none of the rules adopted hereunder are intended or may be construed to contravene, limit or otherwise interfere with or affect the authority of the Governor to grant pardons and reprieves, commute sentences, remit fines or otherwise exercise his or her Constitutional powers of executive clemency.

(h) The Division of Corrections shall promulgate policies and procedures for developing a rehabilitation treatment plan created with the assistance of a standardized risk and needs assessment. The policies and procedures shall include, but not be limited to, policy and procedures for screening and selecting inmates for rehabilitation treatment and development and use of standardized risk and needs assessment tools. An inmate shall not be paroled solely due to having successfully completed a rehabilitation treatment plan but completion of all the requirements of a rehabilitation parole plan along with compliance with the requirements of subsection (b) of this section shall create a rebuttable presumption that parole is appropriate. The presumption created by this subsection may be rebutted by a Parole Board finding that at the time parole release is sought the inmate still constitutes a reasonable risk to the safety or property of other persons if released. Nothing in subsection (b) of this section or in this subsection may be construed to create a right to parole.

(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Parole Board may, in its discretion, grant or deny parole to an inmate against whom a detainer is lodged by a jurisdiction other than West Virginia for service of a sentence of incarceration, upon a written request for parole from the inmate. A denial of parole under this subsection shall preclude consideration for a period of one year or until the provisions of subsection (b) of this section are applicable.

(j) Where an inmate is otherwise eligible for parole pursuant to subsection (b) of this section but the Parole Board determines that the inmate should participate in an additional program or complete an assigned task or tasks prior to actual release on parole, the board may grant parole contingently, effective upon successful completion of the program or assigned task or tasks, without the need for a further hearing. The Commissioner of Corrections shall provide notice to the Parole Board of the imminent release of a contingently paroled inmate to effectuate appropriate supervision.

(k) The Division of Corrections is charged with the duty of supervising all probationers and parolees whose supervision may have been undertaken by this state by reason of any interstate compact entered into pursuant to the uniform act for out-of-state parolee supervision.

(l)(1) When considering an inmate of a state correctional center for release on parole, the Parole Board panel considering the parole is to have before it an authentic copy of or report on the inmate's current criminal record as provided through the West Virginia State Police, the United States Department of Justice or other reliable criminal information sources and written reports of the warden or superintendent of the state correctional center to which the inmate is sentenced:

(A) On the inmate's conduct record while in custody, including a detailed statement showing any and all infractions of disciplinary rules by the inmate and the nature and extent of discipline administered therefor;

(B) On improvement or other changes noted in the inmate's mental and moral condition while in custody, including a statement expressive of the inmate's current attitude toward society in general, toward the judge who sentenced him or her, toward the prosecuting attorney who prosecuted him or her, toward the policeman or other officer who arrested the inmate and toward the crime for which he or she is under sentence and his or her previous criminal record;

(C) On the inmate's industrial record while in custody which shall include: The nature of his or her work, occupation or education, the average number of hours per day he or she has been employed or in class while in custody and a recommendation as to the nature and kinds of employment which he or she is best fitted to perform and in which the inmate is most likely to succeed when he or she leaves prison;

(D) On physical, mental and psychiatric examinations of the inmate conducted, insofar as practicable, within the two months next preceding parole consideration by the board.

(2) The board panel considering the parole may waive the requirement of any report when not available or not applicable as to any inmate considered for parole but, in every such case, shall enter in the record thereof its reason for the waiver: Provided, That in the case of an inmate who is incarcerated because the inmate has been found guilty of, or has pleaded guilty to a felony under the provisions of section twelve, article eight, chapter sixty-one of this code or under the provisions of article eight-b or eight-c of said chapter, the board panel may not waive the report required by this subsection and the report is to include a study and diagnosis including an on-going treatment plan requiring active participation in sexual abuse counseling at an approved mental health facility or through some other approved program: Provided, however, That nothing disclosed by the person during the study or diagnosis may be made available to any law-enforcement agency, or other party without that person's consent, or admissible in any court of this state, unless the information disclosed indicates the intention or plans of the parolee to do harm to any person, animal, institution or to property. Progress reports of outpatient treatment are to be made at least every six months to the parole officer supervising the person. In addition, in such cases, the Parole Board shall inform the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the person was convicted of the parole hearing and shall request that the prosecuting attorney inform the Parole Board of the circumstances surrounding a conviction or plea of guilty, plea bargaining and other background information that might be useful in its deliberations.

(m) Before releasing any inmate on parole, the board of parole shall arrange for the inmate to appear in person before a Parole Board panel and the panel may examine and interrogate him or her on any matters pertaining to his or her parole, including reports before the board made pursuant to the provisions hereof: Provided, That an inmate may appear by video teleconference if the members of the panel conducting the examination are able to contemporaneously see the inmate and hear all of his or her remarks and if the inmate is able to contemporaneously see each of the members of the panel conducting the examination and hear all of the members' remarks. The panel shall reach its own written conclusions as to the desirability of releasing the inmate on parole and the majority of the panel considering the release shall concur in the decision. The warden or superintendent shall furnish all necessary assistance and cooperate to the fullest extent with the Parole Board. All information, records and reports received by the board are to be kept on permanent file.

(n) The board and its designated agents are at all times to have access to inmates imprisoned in any state correctional center or in any jail in this state and may obtain any information or aid necessary to the performance of its duties from other departments and agencies of the state or from any political subdivision thereof.

(o) The board shall, if so requested by the Governor, investigate and consider all applications for pardon, reprieve or commutation and shall make recommendation thereon to the Governor.

(p) Prior to making a recommendation for pardon, reprieve or commutation and prior to releasing any inmate on parole, the board shall notify the sentencing judge and prosecuting attorney at least ten days before the recommendation or parole.

(q) Any person released on parole shall participate as a condition of parole in the litter control program of the county to the extent directed by the board, unless the board specifically finds that this alternative service would be inappropriate.

(r) Except for the amendments to this section contained in subdivision (4), subsection (b) and subsection (i) of this section the amendments to this section enacted during the 2010 regular session of the Legislature shall become effective on January 1, 2011.

WVC 62-12-13a §62-12-13a. Eligibility date for parole.
When the prisoner has received an indeterminate sentence, the minimum sentence shall be considered as an eligibility date for parole consideration but does not confer in the prisoner the right to be released as of that date.

WVC 62-12-14 §62-12-14. Appointment of probation and parole officers and clerical assistants; qualifications of officers; salaries and expenses.
The director shall have authority to appoint such state probation and parole officers as may be necessary to the proper administration of this article, and to employ clerical assistants. He shall determine the qualifications of probation and parole officers and may from time to time conduct competitive examinations as a basis for their selection.

The director shall fix the salaries of state probation and parole officers and all clerical assistants. All persons appointed or employed by the director shall be paid all necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties.

WVC 62-12-14a §62-12-14a. Director of employment for paroled convicts.
The board shall have authority to employ a director of employment for paroled or pardoned prisoners. It shall be the duty of the director to investigate job opportunities and to give every possible assistance in helping prisoners, eligible to be paroled or who have been granted parole under this article, to find employment.

WVC 62-12-15 §62-12-15. Powers and duties of state parole officers.
Each state parole officer shall investigate all cases referred to him or her for investigation by the commissioner of corrections and shall report in writing thereon. He or she shall furnish to each person released on parole under his or her supervision a written statement of the conditions of his or her parole together with a copy of the rules prescribed by the board, as the case may be, for the supervision of parolees. He or she shall keep informed concerning the conduct and condition of each person under his or her supervision and shall report thereon in writing as often as the commissioner of corrections may require. He or she shall use all practicable and suitable methods to aid and encourage persons on parole and to bring about improvement in their conduct and condition. He or she shall keep detailed records of his or her work, shall keep accurate and complete accounts of and give receipts for all money collected from persons under his or her supervision and shall pay over the money to those persons a circuit court or the commissioner of corrections may designate. He or she shall give bond with good security, to be approved by the commissioner of corrections, in a penalty of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than three thousand dollars, as the commissioner of corrections may determine, and also perform any other duties the commissioner may require. He or she has authority, with or without an order or warrant, to arrest any parolee. He or she has all the powers of a notary public, with authority to act anywhere within the state.

WVC 62-12-16 §62-12-16.
Repealed.

Acts, 1955 Reg. Sess., Ch. 42.

WVC 62 - 12 - 17 §62-12-17. Conditions of release on parole.
(a) Release and supervision on parole of any person, including the supervision by the division of corrections of any person paroled by any other state or by the federal government, shall be upon the following conditions:

(1) That the parolee may not, during the period of his or her parole, violate any criminal law of this or any other state or of the United States;

(2) That he or she may not, during the period of his or her parole, leave the state without the consent of the division;

(3) That he or she shall comply with the rules prescribed by the division for his or her supervision by the parole officer;

(4) That in every case in which the parolee for a conviction is seeking parole from an offense against a child, defined in section twelve, article eight, chapter sixty-one of this code; or article eight-b or eight-d of said chapter, or similar convictions from other jurisdictions where the parolee is returning or attempting to return to this state pursuant to the provisions of article six, chapter twenty-eight of this code, the parolee may not live in the same residence as any minor child nor exercise visitation with any minor child nor may he or she have any contact with the victim of the offense; and

(5) That the parolee, and all federal or foreign state probationers and parolees whose supervision may have been undertaken by this state, is required to pay a fee, based on his or her ability to pay, not to exceed forty dollars per month to defray costs of supervision.

(b) The commissioner shall keep a record of all actions taken and account for moneys received. No provision of this section prohibits the division from collecting the fees and conducting the checks upon the effective date of this section. All moneys shall be deposited in a special account in the state treasury to be known as the "Parolee's Supervision Fee Fund". Expenditures from the fund shall be for the purposes of providing parole supervision required by the provisions of this code and are not authorized from collections but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twelve of this code and upon the fulfillment of the provisions set forth in article two, chapter five-a of this code. Amounts collected which are found, from time to time, to exceed the funds needed for purposes set forth in this article may be transferred to other accounts or funds and redesignated for other purposes by appropriation of the Legislature.

(c) The division shall consider the following factors in determining whether a parolee or probationer is financially able to pay the fee:

(1) Current income prospects for the parolee or probationer, taking into account seasonal variations in income;

(2) Liquid assets of the parolee or probationer, assets of the parolee or probationer that may provide collateral to obtain funds and assets of the parolee or probationer that may be liquidated to provide funds to pay the fee;

(3) Fixed debts and obligations of the parolee or probationer, including federal, state and local taxes and medical expenses;

(4) Child care, transportation and other reasonably necessary expenses of the parolee or probationer related to employment; and

(5) The reasonably foreseeable consequences for the parolee or probationer if a waiver of, or reduction in, the fee is denied.

(d) In addition, the division may impose, subject to modification at any time, any other conditions which the division considers advisable.

WVC 62 - 12 - 18 §62-12-18. Period of parole; discharge.
The period of parole shall be the maximum of any sentence, less deductions for good conduct and work as provided by law, for which the paroled inmate, at the time of release, was subject to imprisonment under his or her definite or indeterminate sentence, as the case may be: Provided, That any time after a parolee has been on parole for a period of one year from the date of his or her release, a panel of the board may, when in its judgment the ends of parole have been attained and the best interests of the state and the parolee will be served thereby, release the parolee from further supervision and discharge him or her from parole: Provided, however, That no inmate sentenced to serve a life term of imprisonment and released on parole shall be discharged from supervision and parole in a period less than five years from the date of his or her release on parole.

No parolee who has violated the terms of his or her release on parole by confession to, or being convicted of, in any state of the United States, the District of Columbia or the territorial possessions of the United States, the crime of treason, murder, aggravated robbery, first degree sexual assault, second degree sexual assault, a sexual offense against a minor, incest or offenses with the same essential elements if known by other terms in other jurisdictions shall be discharged from parole. A parolee serving a sentence in any correctional facility of another state or the United States may, unless incarcerated for one of the above enumerated crimes, be discharged from parole while so serving his or her sentence in said correctional facility or be continued on parole or returned to West Virginia as a parole violator, in the discretion of the parole board.

WVC 62 - 12 - 19 §62-12-19. Violation of parole.
(a) If at any time during the period of parole there is reasonable cause to believe that the parolee has violated any of the conditions of his or her release on parole, the parole officer may arrest him or her with or without an order or warrant, or the Commissioner of Corrections may issue a written order or warrant for his or her arrest, which written order or warrant is sufficient for his or her arrest by any officer charged with the duty of executing an ordinary criminal process. The commissioner's written order or warrant delivered to the sheriff against the paroled prisoner shall be a command to keep custody of the parolee for the jurisdiction of the Division of Corrections and during the period of custody, the parolee may be admitted to bail by the court before which the parolee was sentenced. If the parolee is not released on a bond, the costs of confining the paroled prisoner shall be paid out of the funds appropriated for the Division of Corrections.

(b) When a parolee is under arrest for violation of the conditions of his or her parole, he or she shall be given a prompt and summary hearing before a panel of the board, at which the parolee and his or her counsel are given an opportunity to attend. If at the hearing it appears to the satisfaction of the panel that the parolee has violated any condition of his or her release on parole, or any rules or conditions of his or her supervision, the panel may revoke his or her parole and may require him or her to serve in prison the remainder or any portion of his or her maximum sentence for which, at the time of his or her release, he or she was subject to imprisonment: Provided, That if the violation of the conditions of parole or rules for his or her supervision is not a felony as set out in section eighteen of this article, the panel may, if in its judgment the best interests of justice do not require revocation, reinstate him or her on parole. The Division of Corrections shall effect release from custody upon approval of a home plan. Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, when reasonable cause has been found to believe that a parolee has violated the conditions of his or her parole but the violation does not constitute felonious conduct, the commissioner may, in his or her discretion and with the written consent of the parolee, allow the parolee to remain on parole with additional conditions or restrictions. The additional conditions or restrictions may include, but are not limited to, participation in any program described in subsection (d), section five, article eleven-c of this chapter. Compliance by the parolee with the conditions of parole precludes revocation of parole for the conduct which constituted the violation. Failure of the parolee to comply with the conditions or restrictions and all other conditions of release is an additional violation of parole and the parolee may be proceeded against under the provisions of this section for the original violation as well as any subsequent violations.

(c) When a parolee has violated the conditions of his or her release on parole by confession to, or being convicted of, any of the crimes set forth in section eighteen of this article, he or she shall be returned to the custody of the Division of Corrections to serve the remainder of his or her maximum sentence, during which remaining part of his or her sentence he or she is ineligible for further parole.

(d) Whenever the parole of a paroled prisoner has been revoked, the commissioner shall, upon receipt of the panel's written order of revocation, convey and transport the paroled prisoner to a state correctional institution. A paroled prisoner whose parole has been revoked shall remain in custody of the sheriff until delivery to a corrections officer sent and duly authorized by the commissioner for the removal of the paroled prisoner to a state penal institution; the cost of confining the paroled prisoner shall be paid out of the funds appropriated for the Division of Corrections.

(e) When a paroled prisoner is convicted of, or confesses to, any one of the crimes enumerated in section eighteen of this article, it is the duty of the board to cause him or her to be returned to this state for a summary hearing as provided by this article. Whenever a parolee has absconded supervision, the commissioner shall issue a warrant for his or her apprehension and return to this state for the hearing provided for in this article: Provided, That the panel considering revocation may, if it determines the best interests of justice do not require revocation, cause the paroled absconder to be reinstated to parole.

(f) A warrant filed by the commissioner shall stay the running of his or her sentence until the parolee is returned to the custody of the Division of Corrections and physically in West Virginia.

(g) Whenever a parolee who has absconded supervision or has been transferred out of this state for supervision pursuant to section one, article six, chapter twenty-eight of this code is returned to West Virginia due to a violation of parole and costs are incurred by the Division of Corrections, the commissioner may assess reasonable costs from the parolee's inmate funds or the parolee as reimbursement to the Division of Corrections for the costs of returning him or her to West Virginia.

(h) Conviction of a felony for conduct occurring during the period of parole is proof of violation of the conditions of parole and the hearing procedures required by the provisions of this section are inapplicable.

(i) The Commissioner of the Division of Corrections may issue subpoenas for persons and records necessary to prove a violation of the terms and conditions of a parolee's parole either at a preliminary hearing or at a final hearing before a panel of the Parole Board. The subpoenas shall be served in the same manner provided in the Rules of Criminal Procedure. The subpoenas may be enforced by the commissioner through application or petition of the commissioner to the circuit court for contempt or other relief.

WVC 62-12-20 §62-12-20. To whom article applies.
The provisions of this article shall be applied to all persons who shall be convicted of a crime committed after this article takes effect. All persons convicted of a crime committed before this article takes effect, whether convicted before or after that time, shall remain subject to the law in effect when the crime was committed, but any such person who consents to be subject to this article may avail himself of its provisions.

WVC 62-12-21 §62-12-21. Repeal of inconsistent laws;"director" construed to mean "board."
All other laws or parts of laws inconsistent with this article are hereby repealed: Provided, however, That nothing in this article shall be construed to affect in any way the laws relating to juvenile probation and parole. Wherever in the official code of West Virginia the words "director of probation and parole" are used they shall be construed to mean the board of probation and parole.

WVC 62-12-22 §62-12-22. Appointment of counsel for parole violators; authority to appoint; payment of counsel.
Any person accused of a violation of his parole, as set forth in this article, may be represented by counsel at any hearing held for the purpose of determining whether his parole should be revoked. In the event the person accused of a violation of his parole is unable to pay for counsel and desires to have counsel appointed for him, he shall present his application for the appointment of counsel and an affidavit reflecting his inability to pay for such counsel to the circuit court in the county in which such person is confined or in the county in which the hearing is to be held for the purpose of determining whether his parole should be revoked, or to the judge thereof in vacation. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court or judge that such person is in fact unable to pay for counsel, such court or judge may appoint counsel to represent such person. Counsel so appointed shall be paid for his services and expenses in accordance with the provisions of article twenty-one, chapter twenty- nine of this code.

WVC 62 - 12 - 23 §62-12-23. Notification of parole hearing; victim's right to be heard; notification of release on parole.

(a) Following the sentencing of a person who has been convicted of murder, aggravated robbery, sexual assault in the first or second degree, kidnapping, child abuse resulting in injury, child neglect resulting in injury, arson or a sexual offense against a minor, the prosecuting attorney who prosecuted the offender shall prepare a Parole Hearing Notification Form. This form shall contain the following information:

(1) The name of the county in which the offender was prosecuted and sentenced;

(2) The name of the court in which the offender was prosecuted and sentenced;

(3) The name of the prosecuting attorney or assistant prosecuting attorney who prosecuted the offender;

(4) The name of the judge who presided over the criminal case and who sentenced the offender;

(5) The names of the law-enforcement agencies and officers who were primarily involved with the investigation of the crime for which the offender was sentenced; and

(6) The names, addresses and telephone numbers of the victims of the crime for which the offender was sentenced or the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the immediate family members of each victim of the crime, including, but not limited to, each victim's spouse, father, mother, brothers, sisters and any adult household member residing with the victim.

(b) The prosecuting attorney shall retain the original of the Parole Hearing Notification Form and shall provide copies of it to the circuit court which sentenced the offender, the parole board, the Commissioner of Corrections and to all persons whose names and addresses are listed on the form.

(c) At least forty-five days prior to the date of a parole hearing, the parole board shall notify all persons who are listed on the Parole Hearing Notification Form of the date, time and place of the hearing. Such notice shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. The notice shall state that the victims of the crime have the right to submit a written statement to the parole board and to attend the parole hearing to be heard regarding the propriety of granting parole to the prisoner. The notice shall also state that only the victims may submit written statements and speak at the parole hearing unless a victim is deceased, is a minor or is otherwise incapacitated.

(d) The panel considering the parole shall inquire during the parole hearing as to whether the victims of the crime or their representatives, as provided in this section, are present. If so, the panel shall permit those persons to speak at the hearing regarding the propriety of granting parole for the prisoner.

(e) If the panel grants parole, it shall immediately set a date on which the prisoner will be released. Such date shall be no earlier than thirty days after the date on which parole is granted. On the date on which parole is granted, the parole board shall notify all persons listed on the Parole Hearing Notification Form that parole has been granted and the date of release. A written statement of reasons for releasing the prisoner, prepared pursuant to subdivision (4), subsection (b), section thirteen of this article, shall be provided upon request to all persons listed on the Parole Hearing Notification Form. WVC 62 - 12 - 24 §62-12-24. Request to continue for good cause and timely notice required.
(a) Any inmate scheduled for a parole interview shall, if he or she desires to continue the interview, file with the institutional parole officer a written waiver of his or her right to an interview on the date set on a form provided by the commissioner of corrections at least thirty days prior to the interview date. A copy of the waiver shall be supplied to the board of parole.

(b) The board shall propose for promulgation a legislative rule pursuant to article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code setting forth criteria constituting emergency circumstances where a waiver of interview filed less than thirty days prior to the scheduled interview shall constitute good cause for a continuance.

(c) Any inmate failing to appear for his or her scheduled parole interview who has not waived his or her interview pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be deemed to have waived his or her right to a parole interview for a period of twelve months from the date of the interview at which he or she failed to appear. The panel conducting the interview shall have discretion to reset the interview with notice to the inmate and any other person or persons entitled by law to notice, prior to the expiration of the twelve-month waiver period.

WVC 62 - 12 - 25 §62-12-25. Parole supervision benefit fund.
(a) There is created a special revenue account in the state treasury designated the "parole supervision benefit fund". The fund is to be used by the division of corrections for the benefit of parolee supervision with approval of the commissioner. The fund shall consist of moneys received from any source, including, but not limited to, funds donated by the general public or an organization dedicated to parole supervision improvement and funds seized from parolees that are forfeited pursuant to the provisions of article seven, chapter sixty-a of this code.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the commissioner may authorize use of the money in the fund created pursuant to this section for payment to a community corrections program established pursuant to article eleven-c, chapter sixty-two of this code for providing enhanced supervision of parolees.

WVC 62 - 12 - 26 §62-12-26. Extended supervision for certain sex offenders; sentencing; conditions; supervision provisions; supervision fee.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, any defendant convicted after the effective date of this section of a violation of section twelve, article eight, chapter sixty-one of this code or a felony violation of the provisions of article eight-b, eight-c or eight-d of said chapter shall, as part of the sentence imposed at final disposition, be required to serve, in addition to any other penalty or condition imposed by the court, a period of supervised release of up to fifty years: Provided, That the period of supervised release imposed by the court pursuant to this section for a defendant convicted after the effective date of this section as amended and reenacted during the first extraordinary session of the Legislature, 2006, of a violation of section three or seven, article eight-b, chapter sixty-one of this code and sentenced pursuant to section nine-a of said article, shall be no less than ten years: Provided, however, That a defendant designated after the effective date of this section as amended and reenacted during the first extraordinary session of the Legislature, 2006, as a sexually violent predator pursuant to the provisions of section two-a, article twelve, chapter fifteen of this code shall be subject, in addition to any other penalty or condition imposed by the court, to supervised release for life: Provided further, That pursuant to the provisions of subsection (g) of this section, a court may modify, terminate or revoke any term of supervised release imposed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(b) Any person required to be on supervised release for a minimum term of ten years or for life pursuant to the provisos of subsection (a) of this section also shall be further prohibited from:

(1) Establishing a residence or accepting employment within one thousand feet of a school or child care facility or within one thousand feet of the residence of a victim or victims of any sexually violent offenses for which the person was convicted;

(2) Establishing a residence or any other living accommodation in a household in which a child under sixteen resides if the person has been convicted of a sexually violent offense against a child, unless the person is one of the following:

(i) The child's parent;

(ii) The child's grandparent; or

(iii) The child's stepparent and the person was the stepparent of the child prior to being convicted of a sexually violent offense, the person's parental rights to any children in the home have not been terminated, the child is not a victim of a sexually violent offense perpetrated by the person, and the court determines that the person is not likely to cause harm to the child or children with whom such person will reside: Provided, That nothing in this subsection shall preclude a court from imposing residency or employment restrictions as a condition of supervised release on defendants other than those subject to the provision of this subsection.

(c) The period of supervised release imposed by the provisions of this section shall begin upon the expiration of any period of probation, the expiration of any sentence of incarceration or the expiration of any period of parole supervision imposed or required of the person so convicted, whichever expires later.

(d) Any person sentenced to a period of supervised release pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be supervised by a multijudicial circuit probation officer, if available. Until such time as a multijudicial circuit probation officer is available, the offender shall be supervised by the probation office of the sentencing court or of the circuit in which he or she resides.

(e) A defendant sentenced to a period of supervised release shall be subject to any or all of the conditions applicable to a person placed upon probation pursuant to the provisions of section nine of this article: Provided, That any defendant sentenced to a period of supervised release pursuant to this section shall be required to participate in appropriate offender treatment programs or counseling during the period of supervised release unless the court deems the offender treatment programs or counseling to no longer be appropriate or necessary and makes express findings in support thereof.

Within ninety days of the effective date of this section as amended and reenacted during the first extraordinary session of the Legislature, 2006, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources shall propose rules and emergency rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code establishing qualifications for sex offender treatment programs and counselors based on accepted treatment protocols among licensed mental health professionals.

(f) The sentencing court may, based upon defendant's ability to pay, impose a supervision fee to offset the cost of supervision. Said fee shall not exceed $50 per month. Said fee may be modified periodically based upon the defendant's ability to pay.

(g) Modification of conditions or revocation. -- The court may:

(1) Terminate a term of supervised release and discharge the defendant released at any time after the expiration of two years of supervised release, pursuant to the provisions of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure relating to the modification of probation, if it is satisfied that such action is warranted by the conduct of the defendant released and the interests of justice;

(2) Extend a period of supervised release if less than the maximum authorized period was previously imposed or modify, reduce or enlarge the conditions of supervised release, at any time prior to the expiration or termination of the term of supervised release, consistent with the provisions of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure relating to the modification of probation and the provisions applicable to the initial setting of the terms and conditions of post-release supervision;

(3) Revoke a term of supervised release and require the defendant to serve in prison all or part of the term of supervised release without credit for time previously served on supervised release if the court, pursuant to the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure applicable to revocation of probation, finds by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant violated a condition of supervised release, except that a defendant whose term is revoked under this subdivision may not be required to serve more than the period of supervised release;

(4) Order the defendant to remain at his or her place of residence during nonworking hours and, if the court so directs, to have compliance monitored by telephone or electronic signaling devices, except that an order under this paragraph may be imposed only as an alternative to incarceration.

(h) Written statement of conditions. -- The court shall direct that the probation officer provide the defendant with a written statement at the defendant's sentencing hearing that sets forth all the conditions to which the term of supervised release is subject and that it is sufficiently clear and specific to serve as a guide for the defendant's conduct and for such supervision as is required.

(i) Supervised release following revocation. -- When a term of supervised release is revoked and the defendant is required to serve a term of imprisonment that is less than the maximum term of supervised release authorized under subsection (a) of this section, the court may include a requirement that the defendant be placed on a term of supervised release after imprisonment. The length of such term of supervised release shall not exceed the term of supervised release authorized by this section less any term of imprisonment that was imposed upon revocation of supervised release.

(j) Delayed revocation. -- The power of the court to revoke a term of supervised release for violation of a condition of supervised release and to order the defendant to serve a term of imprisonment and, subject to the limitations in subsection (i) of this section, a further term of supervised release extends beyond the expiration of the term of supervised release for any period necessary for the adjudication of matters arising before its expiration if, before its expiration, a warrant or summons has been issued on the basis of an allegation of such a violation. WVC 62 - 12 - 27 §62-12-27. Mandatory prerelease risk assessment of certain sex offenders.
Prior to discharging an inmate convicted of a violation of section twelve, article eight, chapter sixty-one of this code or a felony violation of the provisions of article eight-b or eight-d of said chapter at the expiration of the term of their sentence, the Division of Corrections shall perform an assessment to determine the statistical risk that the inmate will reoffend after being released from the division's custody. Prior to releasing the inmate, the division shall forward the results of the assessment to the inmate's supervising entity.

WVC 62 - 12 - 28 §62-12-28. Authorizing Supreme Court to develop pilot pretrial release programs.
(a) The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals is hereby authorized to develop pilot pretrial release programs in up to five circuits with the aim of reducing regional jail populations of short-term detainees while ensuring the safety of law-abiding citizens.

(b) The programs authorized by subsection (a) of this section shall be available only to persons charged with misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies.

(c) Any program developed pursuant to this section shall require input from arresting officers and shall allow for telephone authorization by magistrates of a charged person's participation.

(d) In developing the pilot programs in the state for examples of successful practices authorized by this section the Court is requested to review any existing programs.

(e) The provisions of this section shall be in effect for three years from the effective date of this section.

(f) The Supreme Court of Appeals is hereby requested to provide annual reports to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates as to the efficacy of the programs.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session

Recent legislation affecting the Code

Citation	Year/Session	Short Title
§62 - 1 E- 1 - (Amended Code) §62 - 1 E- 2 - (Amended Code) §62 - 1 E- 3 - (Amended Code)	SENATE BILL - 200 PASSED - Regular Session SB200 SUB1 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to Eyewitness Identification Act
§62 - 11 A- 1 A - (Amended Code) §62 - 11 B- 9 - (Amended Code) §62 - 11 C- 2 - (Amended Code) §62 - 11 C- 3 - (Amended Code) §62 - 11 C- 6 - (Amended Code) §62 - 11 C- 10 - (New Code) §62 - 12 - 6 - (Amended Code) §62 - 12 - 7 - (Amended Code) §62 - 12 - 9 - (Amended Code) §62 - 12 - 10 - (Amended Code) §62 - 12 - 13 - (Amended Code) §62 - 12 - 14 A - (Amended Code) §62 - 12 - 15 - (Amended Code) §62 - 12 - 17 - (Amended Code) §62 - 12 - 19 - (Amended Code) §62 - 12 - 29 - (New Code) §62 - 15 - 2 - (Amended Code) §62 - 15 - 4 - (Amended Code) §62 - 15 - 6 A - (New Code) §62 - 15 - 6 B - (New Code)	SENATE BILL - 371 PASSED - Regular Session SB371 SUB2 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to prison overcrowding
§62 - 6 B- 2 - (Amended Code) §62 - 6 B- 3 - (Amended Code) §62 - 6 B- 4 - (Amended Code)	SENATE BILL - 461 PASSED - Regular Session SB461 SUB1 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to procedures and protections for child witnesses in domestic relations proceedings
§62 - 12 - 23 - (Amended Code)	HOUSE BILL - 2933 PASSED - Regular Session hb2933 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Providing notification to a prosecuting attorney of an offender's parole hearing and release

West Virginia Code *

Recent legislation affecting the Code