WHEELING - The ever-increasing number of inmates in West Virginia's correctional system could lead to construction of a new state prison in Ohio County.
The state's correctional system is getting a once over this week in Charleston, where officials have gathered to consider ways to address escalating costs and a prison population that is expected to grow by 20 percent over the next four years.
Discussion at the summit Tuesday turned to the need for an additional 1,200-bed facility, and Senate Government Organization Chairman Ed Bowman said the state should consider putting it in the Northern Panhandle on land the Ohio County Commission has said it would donate.
Upon hearing of Bowman's comments, Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton said the commission would be willing to work with the state on such a project.
"We would be pleased to cooperate with the state in any way that we could, not only for creation of permanent jobs, but also for the numerous construction jobs that would be available for a project of that size," Wharton said.
Wharton noted a potential location for a prison in Ohio County would be county-owned property near the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport, located in northern Ohio County not far east of W.Va. 2. He said officials considered construction of a federal prison facility at that site about a decade ago.
The county likely would be willing to donate the land, Wharton said. But for that to happen, he stressed that the state would need to choose a site like the one near the airport that would be acceptable to residents and that would not have any other value to the county.
"Before we made a decision, we would certainly assess the impact (of a new prison) on surrounding areas and surrounding property owners," Wharton continued. "But if it could be a secure facility on land that otherwise would have no productive use to the county, it would be a good project for us to work on with the state."
But before any plans for a new facility are set in motion, Bowman said he expected to hear how the state can fund a new prison.
"Of all the years to look at additional funding, this is the first in many years where we're really going to have to tighten our belts," the Hancock County Democrat said.
The state would likely have to sell bonds to build a new prison, he noted.
Bowman isn't sure what a 1,200-bed prison would cost, but the federal government is spending at least $189 million to build a 1,280-bed medium-security prison in McDowell County.
"There is no silver bullet," said Division of Criminal Justice Services Director Norb Federspiel. "The expectation is something more will need to be done when this is over."
Prison costs have nearly doubled in West Virginia since 2000. The Department of Corrections has said the growth is due to a 37 percent increase in inmates and rising health care costs. Health care is expected to amount to 14.5 percent of this year's budget.
"Money is the key to it all," said Sen. Shirley Love, who has studied correctional issues in the state Senate for the past 12 years. "It's not just building, it's finding the personnel to work in the prisons and the pay to keep them there."
Any solution, however, must include the state's regional jail system because the counties can't keep pace with the daily charges to house persons awaiting trial, the Fayette County Democrat said.
The regional jail system was created after various court rulings declared conditions in the state's 55-county jail system unconstitutional. Counties now say the daily fees are ruining their budgets.
Ultimately, Love said, state correctional officials will have to present solutions to lawmakers because "the Legislature can't pull it out of a hat."