HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 63
(By Delegates Manchin, Beach, Cann, Doyle, Hartman, Longstreth,
Louisos, D. Poling, Ross, Susman, Tabb, Williams, Anderson, Duke,
Ellem, Schadler, Cowles, and Sumner)
[Originating in the Committee on Political Subdivisions
on April 2, 2009]
Requesting that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance
authorize the study of whether it may be in a county's best
interest to allow the county commission to decide whether a
community corrections program or the sheriff should supervise
and administer the home incarceration program.
WHEREAS, The cost of housing a single offender in
institutional custody is close to $25,000 annually; and
WHEREAS, The goal of the West Virginia Community Corrections
Act is to provide a means for communities to develop, establish and
maintain community based corrections programs to provide the
judicial system with sentencing alternatives for those offenders
who may require less than institutional custody.
WHEREAS, A community corrections program is a program
organized by a local criminal justice board or chief probation
officer, with the approval of the chief judge of the circuit and with a showing of community and criminal justice system
involvement; and
WHEREAS, Community corrections programs provide a means for
probation supervision, community service restitution, home
incarceration, substance abuse treatment and counseling services;
and
WHEREAS, Currently, a county must employ one or more persons
or designate the sheriff's office to supervise offenders ordered to
undergo home incarceration and to administer the county's home
incarceration program; and
WHEREAS, A county could save financial resources if additional
employees are not required to administer the home incarceration
program; and
WHEREAS, A deputy sheriff could more effectively serve the
community if his or her duties didn't include home incarceration
supervision; and
WHEREAS, A community corrections program may have a more
significant positive impact on an offender since it not only offers
supervision, but also counseling and other services
; and
therefore
be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study whether it may be in a county's best interest to allow the county commission to decide whether a community
corrections program or the sheriff should supervise and administer
the home incarceration program; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the Regular Session of the Legislature, 2010, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislative expenses necessary to
conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary
legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance.