Criminal Justice (Corrections)

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 5493: Provide a penalty of chemical castration or surgical castration for sex abuse crimes against minors.

HB 5493 would require West Virginia courts to offer convicted sex offenders (specifically those found guilty of crimes against minors under §61-8-12 or related statutes) a choice between hormone treatment (medroxyprogesterone acetate or MPA) or surgical castration as an additional penalty, alongside standard sentencing. Courts must first confirm a defendant's medical suitability for MPA treatment through a court-appointed expert, and the treatment duration is specified in the sentence. Refusing MPA treatment after sentencing could result in a 1-5 year prison term. The bill also mandates a prerelease risk assessment for these offenders before their release from prison.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates additional penalties (chemical/surgical castration) for sex offenders, increasing sentencing severity and reducing defendant choice per §61-8-12.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Sentencing

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 5020: To prohibit a convicted felons of sexual assault, or abuse of juveniles on public school property

HB 5020 prohibits individuals on the state sex offender registry, convicted of sexual assault, or convicted of juvenile abuse from entering public school property or attending school events. It directly affects these individuals and requires schools to hold parent-teacher conferences with them via phone or virtual meeting instead of on-site. Violating this ban is a misdemeanor for a first offense (up to six months in jail) and a felony for repeat offenses (one to five years in prison). The bill also allows the State Board of Education to create implementing rules.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by imposing new misdemeanor/felony penalties for violating school access ban.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice Violent Crime

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

HB 5101: The Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act

HB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, increases penalties for specific domestic violence offenses in West Virginia. It raises the minimum prison sentence for strangulation, suffocation, or asphyxiation of a family or household member (causing injury or loss of consciousness) from one year to two years, and for repeat offenders from one year to three years. For second offenses of domestic battery or assault, the bill sets a minimum jail term of 60 days and increases the maximum fine from $500 to $4,000. The bill also alters bail requirements for domestic violence cases to enhance victim safety protections.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory minimum sentences for domestic violence offenses, expanding criminalization per bill's penalty hikes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Violent Crime

passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 986: Relating to child torture and abused children

This bill creates a new criminal offense called "child torture" in West Virginia law, targeting caregivers, parents, or others with a duty of protection who intentionally or recklessly subject a child under their care to severe physical or psychological acts. It defines torture as including acts like breaking limbs, inflicting prolonged pain, depriving food/water for unreasonable periods, sexual abuse, or terrorizing the child to cause significant emotional distress. The bill establishes felony penalties: 1-5 years in prison if no bodily injury occurs, and 2-10 years if bodily injury results. It directly affects individuals in positions of trust over children, such as parents, guardians, or custodians, by imposing specific criminal consequences for documented severe abuse.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new felony offense for child torture, expanding criminalization. Aligns with 'oppose' indicator of increasing penalties for specific crimes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 707: Relating to crimes involving abuse or desecration of human remains

This bill creates new criminal offenses for intentionally abusing or desecrating human remains, including mutilation, dismemberment, or unauthorized disposal of a deceased body or cremated remains. It establishes a base felony offense (1-5 years in prison or up to $5,000 fine) and an aggravated offense (2-10 years or $2,000-$10,000 fine) when the act involves concealment, obstruction, commercial exploitation, or connection to other felonies. The law applies to both bodies and cremated remains but exempts lawful activities by medical professionals, funeral directors, law enforcement, and researchers acting within legal authority. Prosecutions may occur in the county where the conduct happened or where the remains were discovered.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offenses and penalties for desecrating remains, expanding criminalization within the justice system per indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 21, 2026

SB 1039: Expanding crime of indecent exposure to include biological males who undress in women's locker rooms

SB 1039 (West Virginia Senate Bill 1039) amends the state's indecent exposure law to specifically criminalize biological males who undress in women's locker rooms. The bill adds this behavior to the definition of indecent exposure under §61-8-9(a), making it a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $250 fine. It directly affects individuals who intentionally undress in women's locker rooms under circumstances likely to cause affront or alarm. The law does not apply to mothers breastfeeding, and penalties increase for repeat offenses or if the exposure was for sexual gratification. This bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding new offense (undressing in women's locker rooms) to indecent exposure law, increasing penalties for specific behavior without reform context.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 4974: Relating generally to persons porhibited from possessing firearms.

HB 4974 amends West Virginia law to clarify and expand the categories of people prohibited from legally owning or carrying firearms. It directly affects individuals with certain felony convictions (especially violent or drug-related offenses), those found mentally incompetent or involuntarily committed, unlawful drug users, people subject to specific domestic violence protective orders (requiring findings of credible threat or explicit force prohibitions), and others with disqualifying legal histories. The bill specifies penalties: misdemeanor fines/jail time for first-time violations of prohibitions, and felony charges with longer prison terms for repeat offenses or violations by those prohibited under stricter categories. It also maintains the process for eligible individuals to petition courts to restore firearm rights after meeting strict criteria.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands firearm prohibitions to additional categories (felony convicts, domestic violence cases), increasing restrictions on gun access, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of expanding criminalization.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Firearms

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vetoed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

HB 4893: Increase the penalties for contempt of court in a magistrate court

HB 4893 increases penalties for contempt of court in West Virginia magistrate courts. It raises maximum fines for contempt: from $50 to $200 for a first offense, $100 to $500 for a second offense, and $100 to $1,000 (or up to 10 days in jail) for a third or subsequent offense related to the same matter. The bill applies directly to individuals disrupting court proceedings, including witnesses, jurors, parties, or officers who commit contempt. These changes take effect for offenses occurring after the bill's passage, with appeals still allowed to circuit court as in criminal cases.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for contempt of court, expanding criminalization and increasing punitive measures against court disruptions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Judges

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

HB 4712: Increasing the criminal penalties for DUI causing death to be known as “Baylea’s Law.”

HB 4712, known as "Baylea's Law," increases criminal penalties for drivers convicted of DUI that causes death or injury in West Virginia. It raises prison sentences to 3-30 years for DUI causing death (up from prior limits), 2-10 years for serious bodily injury, and up to 1 year for lesser bodily injury. The bill also mandates license revocation for 10 years (or permanently) for DUI causing death, 5 years for serious injury, and 2 years for minor injuries, with options to reinstate through a "test and lock program." This law directly affects drivers convicted of DUI-related offenses resulting in harm to others, including minors or fetuses as defined by the law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory prison sentences and license revocations for DUI offenses, expanding criminal penalties rather than promoting reform or reducing recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 20, 2026

HB 4085: To increase penalties for selling or facilitating the sale of alcohol to a minor.

HB 4085 increases criminal penalties for selling or facilitating alcohol sales to minors under 21 in West Virginia. It amends sections of the state code (§11-16-18, §11-16-19, and §60-3A-24) to raise fines and potential jail time for licensees, employees, or others who sell or provide alcohol to underage individuals. The bill directly affects bars, restaurants, and retailers that serve alcohol, as well as staff who violate these rules. Key provisions include stricter enforcement of existing prohibitions against serving minors and enhanced penalties for violations. The bill aims to strengthen deterrence against underage alcohol access without changing the underlying prohibition.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for underage alcohol sales, expanding criminalization of minor offenses under criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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