ABNEY.
OVER THE LAST 30-YEARS, THE
NUMBER OF WEST VIRGINIANS PUT IN
JAIL OR PRISON HAS GROWN
SUBSTANTIALLY. IRONICALLY
THE
RATE OF INCARCERATION IS GROWING
AT THE SAME TIME THE
STATE'S OVERALL POPULATION IS
DECLINING.
NOW A MOVE IS UNDERWAY TO REFORM
THE STATE'S CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM -- AND 13 NEWS
REPORTER HANNAH GOETZ
HAS MORE FROM THE CAPITOL
BUILDING. HANNAH?
JENNIFER -- THIS COALITION LOOKS
AT BOTH THE HUMAN AND
ECONOMIC SIDES OF JUSTICE
REFORM... TAKING DOWN BARRIERS
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FOR A
SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE
SO THEY CAN REJOIN AND BE
PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY.
BRITTANY MYERS - RECOVERY POINT
"I WANT TO BE A RECOVERY COACH
IN JACKSON COUNTY FOR DRUG
COURT"
BRITTANY MYERS TELLS ME THAT
GOAL SEEMS DISTANT BECAUSE SHE
IS UNABLE TO PAY FINES TO GET
HER
DRIVER'S LICENSE BACK...STOPPING
HER FROM REENTERING THE
WORKFORCE BRITTANY
MYERS - RECOVERY POINT "THEN I
COULDN'T GET A JOB SO I
RESTORTED TO SELLING DRUGS AND
THAT'S MY OLD BEHAVIORS" THAT
IS ONE OF THE CYCLES STATE
LEADERS TALKED ABOUT BREAKING
TODAY...TO STOP OVERCROWDING IN
JAILS AND ALLOW FOR EASIER
REENTRTY INTO THE WORLD JASON
HUFFMAN - STATE
DIRECTOR, AMERICANS FOR
PROSPERITY "WE ARE HOLDING
PEOPLE BACK FROM REACHING THEIR
FULL POTENTIAL AND LAWMAKERS
HAVE ... RESPONSIBILITY TO THE
TAXPAYER THAT WE ARE NOT HAVING
UNDO BURDEN FROM OUR JAIL BILL"
AND WITH STATE'S CURRENT
INCARCERATION RATE...THE
COALITION FOR JUSTICE REFORM
SAYS REFORM NOW - OR BUILD MORE
JAILS AND PRISONS IN THE FUTURE.
JASON HUFFMAN - STATE DIRECTOR,
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY "POINT
BEING THAT
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WHO
ARE NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS GET
BACK ON THEIR FEET, WE ARE
TAKING THE BARRIERS OUT OF THE
WAY" THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REFORM PACKAGE WOULD IDEALLY
INCLUDE ... - ALLOWING FOR
EARLIER
PAROLE - BAIL REFORM -AND ENDING
THE SUSPENSION OF DRIVER'S
LICENSES FOR OVERDUE FINES AND
FEES.
THAT WOULD BENEFIT PEOPLE LIKE
MYERS AND ALSO DANNI DINEEN
DANNI DINEEN - RECOVERY POINT
"HAVING MY LICENSE WILL GIVE ME
THE ABILITY TO WORK MY PROGRAM
OF RECOVERY WHICH IS FIRST AND
FOREMOST IN MY LIFE AND IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT I BE ABLE TO GET
TO MEETING AND DO SERVICE WORK
SECONDLY I NEED TO GET A JOB AND
HAVE EMPLOYMENT SO I CAN
SUPPORT MYSELF"
CURRENTLY TWO BILLS THAVE BEEN
INTRODUCED IN BOTH THE HOUSE
AND SENATE TO ELIMINATE THE
ABILITY OF A PERSON'S
DRIVER'S LICENSE TO BE SUSPENDED
FOR THE FAILURE TO
PAY COURT FINES AND COSTS.
REPORTING LIVE IN CHARLESTON IM
HANNAH GOETZ
THERE ARE NEW DETAILS TONIGHT ON
ANOTHER SUSPICIOUS
DEATH AT THE V-A MEDICAL CENTER
IN CLARKSBURG:
AN ATTORNEY FOR MANY OF THE
FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES
