To: Sen. Charles Trump, Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee and Delegate John Shott, Chair, House Judiciary Committee
Tell WV Lawmakers to Invest in Alternatives to Institutionalizing Youth
West Virginia should invest in effective community-based services to support vulnerable children and their families rather than wasting tax dollars on harmful juvenile prisons and mental health institutions for children. We urge you to support HB 4263 to redirect resources to community programs such as wraparound services, counseling and mentoring that have proven effective in treating children with mental health or behavioral issues.
Why is this important?
West Virginia has one of highest rates of institutionalizing and incarcerating children in the country. Thanks to your support, we stopped the opening of the Dazzy Vance Mountain Resort, a for-profit institution designed to confine children as young as four who suffer from mental health issues. Now we need your support to pass legislation to require West Virginia to invest in effect community-based alternatives to incarceration.
Unfortunately, for too many of West Virginia’s children and families who need services, the juvenile justice system is the first stop rather than a last resort. Because community-based services are not available in most West Virginia's communities, courts and state agencies unnecessarily over-rely on the juvenile justice system.
West Virginia should redirect money to community programs such as wraparound services, counseling and mentoring that have proven effective in helping children with mental health or behavioral issues. These programs can successfully serve three to four youth in the community for the cost of confining one youth in an institution.