Criminal Justice

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 14, 2026

HB 4276: Relating to authorizing the Attorney General to promulgate a legislative rule relating to fair treatment of crime victims and witnesses.

HB 4276 updates a long-standing rule (established in 1985) that governs how West Virginia's Attorney General must treat crime victims and witnesses. The bill adds a specific expiration date - August 1, 2036 - to this rule, meaning it will automatically end unless renewed by the legislature. This change does not alter the rule's substance but sets a clear timeline for its continuation. The rule directly affects crime victims and witnesses by requiring fair treatment standards in the state's legal processes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUpdates victim/witness fair treatment rule with expiration, maintaining protections without altering substance per bill summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 14, 2026

HB 4139: Allow female inmates to work on state convict road crews.

HB 4139 amends West Virginia law to allow female inmates serving felony sentences to work on state convict road crews, expanding eligibility beyond the current requirement that only male inmates may serve. The bill specifically changes §17-5-1 of the Code to state that "all inmates, regardless of sex" are eligible, while maintaining the existing rule that road crews must be single-sex (no mixed-gender crews permitted). This directly affects female inmates in state correctional facilities who would now qualify for work assignments on state road maintenance projects. The key provision removes the gender restriction in the existing law without altering the single-sex crew requirement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands vocational opportunities for female inmates in correctional programs, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 688: Establishing offense of assault or injury of service animal

SB 688 creates a new criminal offense in West Virginia for recklessly harming or interfering with service animals that assist people with disabilities. It prohibits actions like striking, taunting, throwing objects at, or obstructing service animals - whether they are actively working or the offender knows the animal is a service animal. Violators face up to one year in jail, a $500 fine, or both, plus full restitution for costs including veterinary care, replacement animal expenses, and lost income for the handler. The bill directly affects service animal handlers and anyone who harms these animals during their duties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense protecting service animals for disabled individuals, strengthening legal safeguards under criminal justice by enhancing civil rights protections and accountability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Victims' Rights Violent Crime

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signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4996: Relating to bail in cases involving terroristic threats to schools or children

HB 4996 requires courts to impose mandatory bail conditions for defendants charged with terroristic threats against schools or child-focused facilities (like preschools or daycares). It prohibits defendants from residing within 1,000 feet of the threatened facility or any similar educational location where children are regularly present. Additional conditions may include GPS monitoring to enforce exclusion zones, no contact with students/staff, or home incarceration outside the restricted area. Violations trigger immediate arrest, bail forfeiture, or custody remand, with courts using GIS or property records to measure proximity. The bill directly affects individuals facing charges under §61-6-24(b) related to school threats.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates stricter bail conditions including exclusion zones and GPS monitoring for terroristic threats against schools, increasing restrictions on defendants and reducing their rights.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 192: Establishing offense of assault upon service animal

SB 192 creates a new criminal offense for knowingly harming or recklessly interfering with service animals in West Virginia. It prohibits actions like causing physical harm, taunting, or obstructing service animals while they assist people who are blind, deaf, or have mobility impairments. Violators face misdemeanor penalties of up to one year in jail, a $500 fine, or both, plus requirements to pay veterinary costs, equipment damage, or replacement costs for the service animal. The law applies only when the offender knows or should know the animal is a service animal. This directly affects service animal handlers with disabilities and those who target these animals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense to protect service animals for disabled individuals, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 23, 2026

HB 4779: To require parole boards to take into account the sentencing judge’s recommendation at the time of sentencing

HB 4779 requires West Virginia parole boards to consider a sentencing judge's recommendation for a specific term of imprisonment when reviewing cases involving certain felony offenses. The bill applies to 44 designated crimes, including DUI causing death, drug trafficking near schools, sexual assault, murder, and child abuse. Under this law, judges may recommend a definite prison term during sentencing for these offenses, and parole boards must factor that recommendation into their decisions. This change modifies how parole considerations are handled for these specific cases but does not alter sentencing authority or penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAligns sentencing recommendations with parole decisions for 44 serious offenses, promoting consistency in criminal justice sentencing and judicial input.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 28, 2026

HB 4857: Increasing penalty for transporting telecommunicating devices into jails.

HB 4857 increases penalties for transporting telecommunication devices (like cell phones) into West Virginia correctional facilities. It directly affects visitors, staff, or others attempting to bring such devices into jails or state correctional facilities without authorization. The bill makes it a felony to transport devices onto facility grounds (fines of $1,000-$5,000 or 2-10 years imprisonment) and a misdemeanor to knowingly bring them into restricted areas without approval (fines of $100-$500 or up to 1 year in jail). These provisions aim to prevent unauthorized communication devices from entering secure facilities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for transporting devices into jails, expanding criminalization within correctional facilities per explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SB 55: Establishing criminal offense for obstructing or hindering home incarceration supervisor or social services worker

SB 55 creates a new felony offense for knowingly, willfully, and forcibly obstructing or hindering a home incarceration supervisor or social services worker while they are lawfully performing their duties, if the obstruction causes the death of that professional. It directly affects individuals who obstruct these workers and the workers themselves, who are protected under this law. The key provision sets a mandatory minimum 20-year prison sentence (with no parole eligibility before 20 years) for this offense, replacing a prior 15-year term. This law expands existing protections for public safety personnel to include home incarceration supervisors and social services workers handling cases like abuse investigations or home-based supervision.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeImposes mandatory 20-year sentence for obstruction, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization per oppose indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing Tags Public Safety

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 418: Creating Safer Communities Act

SB 418, the "Creating Safer Communities Act," allows West Virginia counties to levy a new 1% sales or amusement tax starting July 2026, subject to voter approval via referendum. The tax revenue must fund public safety services (sheriff's departments, fire, and emergency response), school resource officers in unincorporated areas, and emergency services. Counties must notify state tax officials before implementation and cannot impose the tax on municipalities participating in the Municipal Home Rule Program. This bill provides counties with a new funding mechanism to address gaps in public safety and school security under current funding structures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesNew 1% sales/amusement tax funds public safety services, advancing essential program funding per bill's explicit revenue allocation.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds sheriff's departments, school resource officers, and emergency services - directly strengthens public safety infrastructure under criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Law Enforcement Tags Public Safety

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 23, 2026

HB 4787: The Anti-Terrorism Act

HB 4787, the Anti-Terrorism Act, creates new felony charges for terrorism in West Virginia, directly affecting individuals or groups committing acts defined as terrorism (including violent protests, riots, or attacks on critical infrastructure). Key provisions include mandatory consecutive prison sentences with no probation, restitution payments to victims up to three times their economic harm (such as lost wages or business shutdown costs), and requiring the Attorney General to designate terroristic entities. The bill also explicitly defines fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction and prohibits "terrorist swatting" (false emergency reports to harass targets). It applies to anyone committing terrorism within West Virginia, regardless of where the act occurred.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandatory consecutive sentences with no probation and expanded criminalization of protests/riots directly increase penalties and restrict defendant rights, opposing reform-focused criminal justice principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

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