West Virginia HCR97: Creating the West Virginia Justice Reinvestment Taskforce

What the bill says

From the introduced text, March 31, 2025:

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 97 (By Delegates Kelly, Howell, Hornby, Hornbuckle, Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker) and Akers) [Originating in the Committee on Rules; Reported on March 31, 2025] Creating the West Virginia Justice Reinvestment Taskforce Whereas, West Virginia has been challenged by staffing shortages and low salaries for staff in regional jails and state prisons; and Whereas, in FY 2023, percent of the population of people sentenced to prison were housed as a backlog in regional jails, and that backlog constituted more than one quarter of the average daily population of the regional jails; and Whereas, in 2019, the latest year national data is available, West Virginia regional jails had the highest rate of mortality of jail inmates at 281 deaths per 100,000; and Whereas, the state's prison population is aging and increasingly expensive, with 25 percent of prisoners aged 50 or older; and Whereas, West Virginia has long grappled with a high rate of behavioral health needs and challenges, including among those who are involved in the criminal justice system, with the highest overdose rate in the country; and Whereas, West Virginia leaders seek to identify a more comprehensive approach to addressing the state's criminal justice, behavioral health, and corrections challenges, including rising costs and fiscal pressures on state agencies and local governments; and Whereas, the United States Department of Justice …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• David Kelly (R, HD-006) · primary sponsor
• Howell, Gary G. (R, 087)
• Hornby, Michael (R, 093)
• Hornbuckle, Sean (D, 025)
• Hanshaw, Roger (R, 062)
• Akers, James Robert JB (R, 055)

Common questions

What is HCR97?

HCR97 is a bill in the West Virginia Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Creating the West Virginia Justice Reinvestment Taskforce.

What is the status of HCR97?

Passed one chamber as of April 1, 2025.

Who sponsored HCR97?

David Kelly (R, HD-006), with 5 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HCR97?

On the West Virginia Legislature website: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Resolution_History.cfm?year=2025&sessiontype=RS&input4=97&billtype=CR&houseorig=H&btype=res