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 Bureau of Juvenile Services and the Department of Health and Human Services. 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, Special Advisor;
Stephanie Bond, Director, Probation Services;
Nicole Cofer, Director, Magistrate Court Services;
Circuit Judge James W. Courrier as Ex-Officio; 25th Judicial Circuit (Grant and Mineral County)
Senior Status Judge Jennifer P. Dent;
Circuit Judge Thomas H. Ewing of the 15th Judicial Circuit, (Fayette County);
W. Jesse Forbes, Forbes Law Offices, PLLC;
Jacob Green, Superintendent, West Virginia Schools of Diversion and Transition;
Keith Hoover, Administrative Director;
Olubunmi Kusimo-Frazier, community member;
Cindy Largent-Hill, Director, Division of Children's Services;
Sophia Mills, community attorney;
Circuit Judge Stacy Nowicki-Eldridge of the 9th Judicial Circuit, (Boone and Lincoln Counties);
Circuit Judge R. Steven Redding of the 27th Circuit (Berkeley and Morgan Counties);
Circuit Judge David Sims of the 1st Judicial Circuit (Brooke, Hancock and Ohio);
Circuit Judge Phillip Stowers of the of the 7th Judicial Circuit (Putnam County), Chairman;
Debra Sullivan, Community Member, Kanawha County
Lisa Tackett, Director, Division of Court Services;
Kristin Walter, Coordinator, Office of Safety and Tiered Support Systems, WVDE Division of Federal Programs and Support

STAFF

Jessica Brown, Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice Field Coordinator, Division of Children's Services;
Debi Gillespie, Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice Analyst, Division of Children's Services;
Tim Harper, Youth Project Coordinator, Division of Children’s Services;
Brenda Hoylman, Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice Manager, Division of Children's Services;
Amy Sadler, Court Involved Youth Specialist; Division of Children's Services; and
Lorri Stotler, Administrative Specialist, Division of Children's Services.
Evan Lynch, Deputy Administrative Director

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