CHARLESTON, W.Va.– The governor is being sued over the conditions at the state’s correctional facilities. The class-action suit was filed this week on behalf of three inmates but alleges the inhumane living conditions effect nearly ten-thousand inmates.
Beckley attorney Steve New is also seeking an injunction to “prohibit the state from housing inmates in the current conditions.”
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey was asked to comment:
He said his office is also eyeing the impact of the the recently concluded Special Session, which saw budget surplus money earmarked for one-time bonuses for corrections employees.
House Speaker Pro Tempore Paul Espinosa (R-Jefferson) talked about those efforts as the session was wrapping up Tuesday and before the lawsuit was announced:
Beckley attorney Steve New represents the plaintiffs and is said to have depositions from former members of the Justice administration that will back up the claims. Deferred maintenance, overcrowding and under staffing are three primary points of the lawsuit.
More on this developing story in an article at WVMetroNews.
