Senate Bill No. 364

(By Senator Love)

____________

[Introduced February 1, 2000; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.]
____________




A BILL to repeal section one, article thirteen, chapter sixty-two of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended; and to amend article one, chapter twenty-five of said code by adding thereto a new section, designated section one-a, relating to articulating a purpose and legislative intent concerning the operation of the division of corrections.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section one, article thirteen, chapter sixty-two of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be repealed; and that article one, chapter twenty-five of said code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section one-a, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. ORGANIZATION, INSTITUTIONS AND CORRECTIONS MANAGEMENT.

§25-1-1a. Purpose and legislative intent.

The primary purpose of the division of corrections is to enhance public safety by providing for the incarceration and care of convicted offenders who have been sentenced by courts of proper jurisdiction to serve terms of incarceration. It is the intent of the Legislature:
(1) That persons committed to correctional institutions of the state for crimes be afforded appropriate treatment to reestablish their ability to live peaceably and consistent with the protection of the community;
(2) That persons committed to correctional institutions of the state be released at the earliest possible date, consistent with public safety;
(3) To establish a just, humane and efficient corrections program; and
(4) To avoid duplication and waste of effort and money on the part of public and private agencies.


NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to articulate a purpose and legislative intent concerning the operation of the division of corrections.

This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.