Juvenile Justice Commission

Members
Staff
Orders
Resources
Publications

In the summer of 2011, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, under the leadership of then - Chief Justice Margaret Workman, established the Adjudicated Juvenile Rehabilitation Review Commission. The initial purpose of the Commission was to examine the Division of Juvenile Services’ operations programs. Over time, the scope of the Commission’s mission has expanded and now encompasses more aspects of the juvenile justice system. As a result of this broadening focus, the Commission was renamed the Juvenile Justice Commission and their work has permanently affected the juvenile justice system in West Virginia. The Commission is involved in reviewing facilities and programs operated or contracted by the Division of Juvenile Services and the Department of Health and Human Resources. In addition, the Commission looks at strengths, gaps and needs within West Virginia’s juvenile justice processes. The premise for their work is based on the following

Any children ordered into facilities, removed from their families/homes and who are outside of their home communities, are wards of the courts. Therefore, those youth remain a proper concern of the court system. The Juvenile Justice Commission is the mechanism whereby the Court can monitor and ensure that the system provides safe, nurturing living conditions as well as rehabilitative services.

MEMBERS

Molly Arbogast, Executive Director, National Association of Social Workers, WV Chapter
Joseph Armstrong, Administrative Director;
Stephanie Bond, Director, Probation Services Division;
Nicole Cofer, Director, Magistrate Court Services Division;
Circuit Judge Jennifer P. Dent of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit (Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties);
Circuit Judge Thomas H. Ewing, (Fayette County);
W. Jesse Forbes, Forbes Law Offices, PLLC;
Jacob Green, Superintendent, West Virginia Schools of Diversion and Transition;
Olubunmi Kusimo-Frazier, community member;
Cindy Largent-Hill (Morgan County), Director, Division of Children & Juvenile Services; Sophia Mills, community attorney
Circuit Judge Stacy Nowicki-Eldridge (Boone and Lincoln Counties);
Circuit Judge R. Steven Redding of the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit (Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties);
Circuit Judge Phillip Stowers of the Twenty-Ninth Judicial Circuit (Putnam County), Chairman;
Debra Sullivan, Community Member, Kanawha County
Lisa Tackett, Director, Division of Court Services;
The Rev. Rue Thompson, Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston WV;
Kristin Walter, Coordinator, Office of Student Support and Well-Being, WVDE
Circuit Judge David Sims of the First Judicial Circuit (Brooke, Hancock and Ohio)
Circuit Judge C. Carter Williams of the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit (Hampshire, Hardy, and Pendleton Counties), Ex-Officio;

STAFF

Jessica Brown, Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice Field Coordinator, Division of Children's Services;
Tim Harper, CIP Field Coordinator, Division of Children's Services;
Keith Hoover, Administrative Counsel, Supreme Court of Appeals of WV;
Brenda Hoylman, Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice Manager, Division of Children's Services;
Amy Sadler, Court Improvement Program Field Coordinator; Division of Children's Services; and
Lorri Stotler, Administrative Specialist, Division of Children's Services.

ORDERS INVOLVING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMISSION

Administrative Order establishing the Commission

Administrative Order naming Juvenile Justice Commission Director

Administrative Order naming assistant director to the commission

Administrative Order granting access to records to director and deputy director

Administrative Order naming Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice Commission Manager

Administrative Order naming Court Improvement Program Field Coordinator

Administrative Order granting access to witnesses, records, documents, and any other evidence relevant to Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare

Administrative Order naming Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice Field Coordinator

Administrative Order changing division name and naming new Court Improvement Program Field Coordinator

RESOURCES

The Juvenile Law Guide is an overview of West Virginia juvenile law and court procedures. It is intended to provide a framework for understanding West Virginia's juvenile justice system. This overview can be used as a training tool for juvenile justice system personnel, law enforcement, students, and the public.

The Rules of Juvenile Procedure govern the procedures in the courts of West Virginia having jurisdiction over delinquency and status offense matters and apply to both delinquency and status offense proceedings except where otherwise specified or limited.

Chapter 49 of the West Virginia Code dealing with Child Welfare

PUBLICATIONS

2017 Juvenile Justice Commission Annual Report

2016 Juvenile Justice Commission Annual Report

2016 Juvenile Justice Commission's Findings of Fact and Recommendations relating to DHHR proposed contract changes for the placement of children