A recent report from the Prison Policy Initiative reveals that West Virginia is one of just ten states that experienced a decline in its prison population between 2019 and 2023. This shift comes as incarceration rates in much of the country are on the rise.
Wanda Bertram, a communications strategist at the initiative, explained that while incarceration rates dropped during the early pandemic years, the trend has now reversed. Between 2022 and 2023, state prisons across the U.S. saw an influx of over 50,000 new inmates, erasing roughly a quarter of the pandemic-driven reductions.
“Even though it’s only a 2% increase, that’s a significant jump,” Bertram noted. “The data shows that more people are being held in state prisons, local jails, and federal facilities compared to just a year ago.”
West Virginia’s Correctional Landscape
Currently, West Virginia has around 11,000 individuals incarcerated, with over 9,000 others on probation or parole. The state’s correctional system faced challenges in recent years, particularly with staffing shortages in jails.
To address these shortages, then-Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency, leading to National Guard members being deployed to assist in adult and juvenile detention centers. That emergency order was lifted last year, and National Guard personnel are no longer assigned to these facilities, according to a state report.
Nationwide Concerns Over Pretrial Detention
A significant issue highlighted in the Prison Policy Initiative report is the large number of people incarcerated without having been convicted of a crime. Bertram emphasized that, on any given day, nearly half a million individuals are held in jails across the country due to an inability to pay bail.
“In most states, bail reform has yet to take hold,” she said. “That leaves a huge number of people stuck in jail simply because they can’t afford their freedom while awaiting trial.”
She also challenged the assumption that higher incarceration rates lead to lower crime rates.
“In states with harsher sentencing policies, we don’t always see a corresponding decrease in violent crime,” Bertram said. “Despite this, many lawmakers continue pushing for stricter punishments rather than investing in alternatives to incarceration.”
High Turnover in the Justice System
Beyond those serving prison sentences, the justice system sees a constant influx of new individuals. In 2022 alone, approximately 469,000 people entered prison gates. However, that same year, law enforcement made over 7 million arrests, demonstrating the rapid turnover in jails and correctional facilities.
As West Virginia bucks the national trend of rising prison populations, policymakers may continue exploring ways to address incarceration rates while ensuring public safety.