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Statistics for the State of West Virginia

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Overview of West Virginia's Correctional System West Virginia

The Jail System

West Virginia has 55 counties and 18 jail facilities with a combined rated capacity of 2,660. There are no jail inspection or jail standard programs in the state.

The Prison System

The Div. of Corrections, within the Dept. of Military Affairs and Public Safety, managed 6,056 inmates in 2007, operates 12 facilities, and has a staff of 1,585.

The Community Corrections System

Probation departments in each of the 31 judicial districts (1-3 counties per district) supervised 7,890 probationers in 2007. The state Div. of Corrections supervised 1,830 parolees.
2007 Crime Rate for West Virginia
The crime rate in West Virginia is about 25% lower than the national average rate. Property crimes account for around 90.2% of the crime rate in West Virginia which is 23% lower than the national rate. The remaining 7.4% are violent crimes and are about 41% lower than other states. The following graph shows how West Virginia compared to the rest of the states.

State Crime Rates (Per 100,000 People)

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West Virginia National Avg.
Crime Rates (2007) 2,800 3,731
Violent Crimes 275 467
Property Crimes 2,525 3,264
2004 Corrections Population
West Virginia has 21,065 adults under correctional supervision (prisons, jails, probation, and parole). The supervision rate (number of offenders per 100,000 people) is about 61% lower than the national rate.

State Population Rates (Per 100,000 People)

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West Virginia National Avg.
Population Rate (2004) 991 2,572
2007 Incarceration Information
West Virginia has a rate 26% lower than than the national average of incarcerated adults per 100,000.

Incarceration Rate (Per 100,000)

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West Virginia National Avg.
Incarceration Rate (2007) 333 447
2007 Probationers
West Virginia has a rate 71% lower than than the national average number of probationers per 100,000 people.

Probationers (Per 100,000)

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West Virginia National Avg.
Probationer Rate (2007) 533 1,863
2007 Parolees
West Virginia has a rate 60% lower than than the national average number of parolees per 100,000 people.

Parolees (Per 100,000)

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West Virginia National Avg.
Parolee Rate (2007) 128 319
2008 Corrections Percentage of Total State Government Expenditures
Taxpayers paid 30% lower than than the national average in 2008.

Percentage Spent on Corrections

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West Virginia National Avg.
% Spent on Corrections (2008) 4.7% 6.7%

Data Sources:

  • The PEW Center on the States
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Dept. of Justice
  • Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice
  • American Jail Assoc.
  • American Correctional Assoc.
  • State Government Websites
  • State-provided information
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