West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB4552: Relating to the law-enforcement powers of correctional officers
Status: Signed into law, April 1, 2026
What the bill says
An act to amend §15A-3-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the law-enforcement powers of correctional officers; clarifying that certain employees of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation are law-enforcement officers; clarifying the powers and duties of the commissioner; clarifying the authority of correctional peace officers; and clarifying that certain correctional officers shall receive identification to carry weapons off duty. ARTICLE 3. Division of Corrections and rehabilitation. §15A-3-10. Law-enforcement powers of employees; authority to carry firearms.
From the enrolled text, March 14, 2026:
AN ACT to amend §15A-3-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the law-enforcement powers of correctional officers; clarifying that certain employees of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation are law-enforcement officers; clarifying the powers and duties of the commissioner; clarifying the authority of correctional peace officers; and clarifying that certain correctional officers shall receive identification to carry weapons off duty. ARTICLE 3. Division of Corrections and rehabilitation. §15A-3-10. Law-enforcement powers of employees; authority to carry firearms. (a) As outlined in this section, a correctional officer employed by the division is a law-enforcement officer: Provided, That such law-enforcement officers who have successfully completed the appropriate training program for correctional officers established by the commissioner pursuant to §15A-3-4 are not subject to the certification requirements set forth in §30-29-1 et seq.: Provided, however, That the commissioner may consult with the Law Enforcement Professional Standards Subcommittee of the Governor's Committee on Crime, Delinquency, and Correction when designing his or her law-enforcement officer training course specifically for correctional officers: Provided further, That nothing in this section shall be construed as superseding the requirements set forth in §30-29-5 of this code for a person to be employed as a law-enforcement officer by any West Virginia law-enforcement agency or by any state institution of higher education or by a hospital or …