West Virginia Corrections

Corrections are the supervision of offenders who have been arrested, convicted of or sentenced for criminal offenses. (Bureau of Justice Services, 2012)The purpose of correction is to punish, rehabilitate and prevent. There are two main parts to corrections. These are community corrections and institutional corrections. There are many different options available depending on the state you live in. I currently live in West Virginia. Corrections here differ from the options available in other states.

Community corrections is the when the offender is supervised in the community while serving a sentence. (Bureau of Justice Services, 2012) They are also known as intermidiate sanctions. The goal of community corrections is to allow the offender to remain in the community and with their families while serving their sentence. This also helps with overcrowding of jails. Even though there are many risks with allowing offenders to use these programs the courts take everything into consideratin before allowing an offender to remain in the community. These programs are only availabel for nonviolent offenders. (Center for Community Corections, 2009) There are two parts to community corrections. The first part is punishment and then requirements to change behaviors. The punishment is enforced by taking away the offenders freedom. This means that we enforce strict rules and regulations. The second part requires offenders to change the behaviors that put them in the situation to cause the criminal behavior. This can be drug and alcohol rehab, job training, ged classes, mental health counseling. Basically anything that the offender might need to not commit the crime again. The purpose of community correction is to protect the public by restricing the freedom of the offender. (Center for Community Corections, 2009) Hold the Criminal responsible for the crime they commited, address whatever brought about the criminal behaviors and make the offender at least partway resposible for the cost of the program and make the offender pay the victim restitution. (Center for Community Corections, 2009)

In West Virginia there are community corrections available. The West Virginia community corrections act provides for the devolpment and establishing of community based corrections for offenders that may require less than institutional custody. Though due to lack of funding there may not be as many community corrections programs as needed the state has been receiving funding and trying to establish more community corrections. Some counties just received this year funds to start community corrections. There are currently in some counties probation, diversions programs, parole, home confinement, weekend jail. Not every county offers these but the state is working toward the goal of having community corrections statewide. All community correction programs require that the offenders remain drug and alcohol free. Diversion programs are