FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: January 12, 2024
Time Requested: 05:13 PM
Agency: Corrections & Rehabilitation, Division of
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
1935 Introduced HB4658
CBD Subject: Crime


FUND(S):

West Virginia DCR

Sources of Revenue:

General Fund

Legislation creates:

Increases Existing Expenses



Fiscal Note Summary


Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.


This could significantly increase the cost of the DCR. There is not enough information yet to determine how many inmates may be affected by this change. Not providing good time to some offenders would mean that a (10) year sentence would not expire until (10) years which under current would discharge at 5 years with good time additions. This would impact overcrowding, medical, food service, etc. but enhance public safety. No change to life sentence as they don’t get good time. This also would not affect parole eligibility calculations.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2024
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2025
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 0 0 0
Personal Services 0 0 0
Current Expenses 0 0 0
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 0 0


Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):


The WVDCR is unable to predict how many additional inmates would be sentenced to state custody to the terms outlined as a result of this legislation. However, for each such prisoner the State of West Virginia could expect an additional cost of $40,362 per year of incarceration.



Memorandum


The WVDCR is unable to predict how many additional inmates would be sentenced to state custody to the terms outlined as a result of this legislation. However, for each such prisoner the State of West Virginia could expect an additional cost of $40,362 per year of incarceration. My assumption would be this bill would cause inmates to serve longer sentences and would increase populations in our medium and maximum security institutions. Good time earned and taken are tools used in managing a population's behavior while incarcerated and this could affect behaviors within our custody. Having inmates serve longer sentences, have an aged population, also has shown to increase medical costs which could also substantially increase the cost of the agency. It could potentially affect offenders supervision by adding to the Parole Population. This could cause the need for additional Parole Officer(s). Placing Offenders on Electronic monitoring for the entirety of their sentence on supervision would be at an additional cost. Currently it cost the Agency about $2.58 per day to have an inmate on Electronic monitoring. Inmates are charged an additional $6.00 a day while on GPS. This could have a additional costs to the agency but it can not be estimated with the information provided.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Patrick Mirandy
    Email Address: patrick.a.mirandy@wv.gov