Establishing criminal offense for crimes against public justice workers

SB 81 creates a new felony offense in West Virginia for knowingly, willfully, and forcibly obstructing or hindering home incarceration supervisors or social service workers while they are performing their official duties, if the obstruction causes their death. It specifically targets physical force used against these workers, including those supervising home incarceration programs or providing services like child abuse investigations, mental health support, and home visits for vulnerable populations. Violators face a mandatory prison sentence of 15 years to life in a state correctional facility. The bill expands existing protections for public safety workers to include these specific roles, with clear definitions of "forcibly" and the covered workers.