West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has announced that he is ending the state of emergency related to staffing issues in the state Department of Corrections. The Republican governor had called on the state National Guard to help address worker attrition in the state’s jails and prisons almost two years ago, when the vacancy rate was over 30%. Over 730 members of the National Guard had been working in 17 correctional facilities while the state of emergency was in place.
During a briefing with the press on Friday, Gen. William E. Crane, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, expressed pride in the Guard’s efforts to address the staffing crisis. Since January 2024, nearly 240 people have graduated from the state’s corrections academy. In addition, 38 National Guard members who were assigned to work in jails and prisons have chosen to stay on permanently. The state had previously declared a state of emergency for its jails and prisons in 2017, signaling the severity of the staffing challenges.
In response to the staffing crisis, state lawmakers convened a special session last summer and approved over $21 million for correctional officer pay increases. In addition to the pay increases, two one-time bonuses of $2,294 were granted to non-correctional officer jail staff, such as kitchen staff. These measures were aimed at addressing the root causes of the staffing shortage and improving working conditions in correctional facilities across the state.
Governor Justice’s decision to end the state of emergency marks a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to address the staffing challenges in its prison system. The state National Guard played a crucial role in providing temporary staffing support and helping to stabilize the situation during the state of emergency. The decision to end the state of emergency signals a level of progress in addressing the staffing issues that have plagued the state’s Department of Corrections.
Moving forward, it will be important for state officials to continue to monitor the staffing situation in West Virginia’s jails and prisons to ensure that the progress made during the state of emergency is sustained. Implementing long-term solutions to attract and retain correctional staff will be essential to maintaining the safety and security of the state’s correctional facilities. By working collaboratively with state agencies, lawmakers, and correctional staff, West Virginia can build on the progress made during the state of emergency and create a more stable and secure prison system for the future.
