Former state Corrections Commissioner Betsy Jividen recently appeared before the Legislative Oversight Committee on Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority to discuss a recidivism program she has been involved with. During the meeting, committee members were asked to keep their questions related to the program. However, Senator Jason Barrett still asked Jividen about the conditions in the jails and prisons while she was commissioner and how that affected prisoners upon release.
Committee Chairman Del. David Kelly intervened and instructed Jividen not to answer the question, stating that it was not the appropriate setting. Senator Barrett disagreed and argued that it was a relevant question to ask. Despite the disagreement, the meeting ended shortly after Jividen's presentation, with no further discussion on the matter.
In a sworn deposition for a class-action lawsuit regarding the Southern Regional Jail, Jividen had previously discussed the issue of deferred maintenance, which amounted to $200 million. When questioned about the lack of funding for maintenance, Jividen stated that they depended on the allotted money, but it was insufficient to address the overall maintenance needs. The state recently settled the lawsuit for $4 million, although there is still another ongoing lawsuit concerning the conditions in West Virginia's jails and prisons.
Jividen resigned from her position as corrections commissioner in July 2022 and had previously worked as a federal prosecutor for over 40 years. At the meeting, Jividen mentioned that the state's recidivism rate is 29.3% within three years of an inmate's release from incarceration.
The interim committee on jails and prisons is expected to convene again during meetings scheduled for December 10-12 at the state capitol.
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