State of West Virginia secondary Archives: on Crime
Bob Wise:
$1.5M to raise pay for police and prison guards
Although we value their work, those who guard us against crime are paid far less in West Virginia than in our surrounding states. This is particularly true in the correctional system.
After completing the required training, the starting salary for a correctional officer is $18,000. Severely understaffed and overworked, our correctional officers are spending long days in close quarters with dangerous and unpredictable criminals.
I ask you to pass legislation that will provide a $2,000 annual raise for correctional officers. Our State Police, too, are not paid adequately in accordance with the burden they carry.
And, we are unable, in this tight budget year, to give them all they deserve. But I have set aside $1.5 million in the budget to offer an adjustment in the trooper longevity schedule that will reward our troopers for remaining on the job.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to West Virginia Legislature
Feb 14, 2001
Don Blankenship:
Past criminal conviction not a barrier to running for office
In 2010 an explosion at a coal mine operated by Massey Energy killed 29 men. In 2015 Don Blankenship, the former C.E.O., was sent to prison for conspiring to violate mine safety standards. Blankenship is one of 4 Republicans with criminal convictions
running for office this year, several of whom may well win their party's nominations. There is a much broader list of Republican politicians facing credible accusations of huge ethical lapses who nonetheless emerged victorious in G.O.P. primaries.
Source: N.Y. Times on 2018 West Virginia Senatorial race
Mar 26, 2018
Earl Ray Tomblin:
Take preventative approach to juvenile justice
Following recommendations from my Commission on Juvenile we launched comprehensive juvenile justice reform that provided $600,000 in new funding to establish truancy diversion programs in each county. Since launching its own program
in 2010, Putnam County has seen significant improvements in overall student attendance and achievement. Truancy referrals have dropped in half and four-year graduation rates have increased from 78% to 90% during that same period.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to West Virginia legislature
Jan 13, 2016
Evan Jenkins:
Tough on crime, but open to reforms
I'm tough on crime. I think people have responsibilities and they should be held accountable, but I served on the Governor's Justice Reinvestment Plan in West Virginia to try to use the money that is already in the system to get treatment in our
prisons. We have felony prisoners come up for parole, but they have not had the classes needed to be eligible. I do believe in reforms in that area, but I also feel responsible about holding people accountable.
Source: The Register-Herald on 2018 West Virginia Senatorial race
Oct 27, 2016
Jay Wolfe:
Support the use of the death penalty
Wolfe indicates support of the following principles regarding crime. - Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
- Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
Source: West Virginia Congressional 2008 Political Courage Test
Aug 8, 2008
Jay Wolfe:
Mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs
Wolfe indicates support of the following principles regarding crime. - Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
- Support strict penalties for internet crime (e.g. hacking, identity theft, worms/viruses).
Source: West Virginia Congressional 2008 Political Courage Test
Aug 8, 2008
Jim Justice:
Stiffer laws for drug pushers; treatment for addicts
I want to fix the drug problem. If we don't fix the drug problem in this state, it will cannibalize you. We have to have stiffer laws. A drug pusher that rolls in here from Detroit and selling drugs, he ought to know that this is not going to be a fun
program if we catch him. We absolutely have to have a pathway to get our people that are hooked on these terrible drugs back into the community. We have to do something with all the prescription drugs. But we have to have treatment facilities too.
Source: 2017 West Virginia State of the State address
Feb 8, 2017
Joe Manchin III:
Accelerated parole system for non-violent offenders
Like most states, West Virginia is facing a dramatically increasing prison population we simply cannot sustain. We are always going to be tough on crime, but we must adopt a different approach or we will have an insurmountable problem.
Tonight I am introducing a bill that will streamline our parole system and use our prisons to keep violent offenders where they belong--locked up.
This accelerated parole system has been tested in other states and is one part of an overall plan to free up our prison resources.
This program would only be open to non-violent offenders and those convicted of crimes that do not involve a child.
And, we will be working with West Virginia State University for the combined purpose of expanding our work-release program and renovating the former Rehabilitation Center in Institute. We are not being soft on crime--we are being smart on crime.
Source: West Virginia 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 13, 2010
Michael Folk:
Supports capital punishment; supports prosecuting minors
Q: Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?A: Yes.
Q: Do you support reducing prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes?
A: Yes.
Q: Should a minor accused of a violent
crime be prosecuted as an adult?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
A: Yes.
Source: West Virginia State 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Pat McGeehan:
No capital punishment; don't prosecute minors as adults
Q: Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?A: No.
Q: Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
A: No.
Q: Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
A: No.
Source: West Virginia Election 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Patrick Morrisey:
Tougher sentences for drug kingpins
Morrisey created the state's first ever substance abuse fighting unit, and his office reached the largest settlement with pharmaceutical distributors in the state's history. He also ramped up the state's educational efforts to fight substance abuse. He w
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senatorial website PatrickMorrisey.com
Oct 1, 2017
Patrick Morrisey:
More funding, more equipment, more hiring for state police
- @MorriseyWV on Feb 15: WV badly erred when it failed to fund state police trooper classes. While that is now being remedied in the short term (thank you) the broader crisis regarding lack of enforcement personnel needs to be addressed.
I call on the Speaker to focus on this and help save lives.
- @MorriseyWV on Feb 15: WV isn't doing enough to stop drug abuse. It's time @wvlegislature agrees to an enforcement surge and equips
State Police, prosecutors, and AG with more investigators, prosecutors, and troopers. No midnight highway patrols to go after drug dealers?
It's literally criminal. #wvag
- @MorriseyWV on Feb 17: It may be a very busy week for the AG's office enforcing the laws of our state. I urge everyone to follow the law--no one is above the law. Do the right thing!
Source: Twitter posting on 2018 West Virginia Senate race
Feb 18, 2018
Paula Jean Swearengin:
End mandatory minimum sentencing
Judicial discretion has eroded due to the politicization of law enforcement. Loss of discretion means that judges are compelled to deliver sentences that are often harsher than the crime committed. If discretion is given back to the courts,
judges may have greater latitude in delivering a sentence that gives an individual in the system a chance to get his or her life back on track, rather than waste away in prison for years.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
Alex Mooney:
Jan. 6 not a domestic terrorist attack, just a protest
Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.) called it "insulting" to classify the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol as a domestic terrorist attack during an interview with a West Virginia radio station alongside his primary opponent, Rep. David McKinley
(R-W.Va.). "It was a protest. It was a protest. That's what it was. A few people went in and the law should be implemented for those who broke it."--Mooney on West Virginia Metro News' "Talkline."
Source: Politico.com on 2024 West Virginia Senate race
May 5, 2022
Mac Warner:
Stand with law enforcement; demand law and order
- Stand with law enforcement and for public safety
-
Demand law and order
- Wage war on the opioid addiction crisis
Source: 2024 West Virginia Gubernatorial website MacWarner.com
Jun 6, 2023
JB McCuskey:
Supports putting armed security guards in public schools
McCuskey says public schools should include armed security guards to protect students and staff in the event of an active shooter situation. "This is about protecting immediate safety of a large portion of the students," McCuskey said. "These are people
that are going to be seen as police officers in the schools. They are there to protect the students from outside threats."Having an armed guard at the school could deter a potential shooter from entering the building, McCuskey said.
Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2024 West Virginia Gubernatorial race
Apr 3, 2023
Moore Capito:
There is a need to put away really, really bad people
Public safety and education are top priorities, Capito said, suggesting life prison sentences for human trafficking and fentanyl dealing. There should be attention paid to how programming in the correctional system prepares people to be
released back into society, but there is a need to "put away really, really bad people that are doing damage on our streets. That's full stop."
Source: Parkersburg News&Sentinel: 2024 West Virginia Governor race
Aug 18, 2023
Steve Williams:
Tells criminals, "We're going to run you out of town"
[On news article, "23 arrested in Huntington citywide warrant sweep"]: "If somebody's coming in to Huntington seeking to do something other than a legitimate business, we're going to run you out of town," said Williams. "We don't want you here.
You don't belong here and you're not adding any value to our community." Williams said the community's help will lead to more arrests. He says they can do so through the police department's anonymous tip line.
Source: WSAZ News Channel 3 on 2024 West Virginia Gubernatorial race
Jun 16, 2016
Glenn Elliott:
We have a historically low crime rate for a city our size
Among the many things that Mayor Elliott spoke highly about was the city's public safety. He told the hundreds in attendance for his speech that crime is down in Wheeling. "We have a historically low crime rate for a city our size, especially when it
comes to violent crime." Mayor Elliott said. "We do a very good job in the city when it comes to keeping the public safe."With investments made into public safety, the Wheeling Police Department unveiled their new headquarters recently.
Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2024 West Virginia Senate race
Jul 25, 2023
Page last updated: Feb 06, 2026