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WV Corrections completes Anthony transfers

5/25/2018

May 25, 2018

 

W.Va. Corrections completes Anthony transfers

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The W.Va. Division of Corrections has removed all inmates from its Anthony Correctional Center, with the remaining staff on schedule to leave the facility’s main buildings by late this afternoon.

Staff are also being provided copies of the final, written report from the recently concluded mold inspection that prompted the transfers, along with written guidance from the Bureau for Public Health at the Department of Health and Human Resources. Both documents are being posted on the Division of Corrections website: http://www.wvdoc.com.

Corrections Commissioner Betsy Jividen ordered the transfers on May 17, after receiving initial findings from the then-ongoing inspection of the Greenbrier County minimum-security facility. Around 24 female inmates were relocated to the Lakin Correctional Center. The 180 male inmates were moved to the Denmar Correctional Center, which required the transfer of inmates from that facility to the Parkersburg Correctional Center. Most of the 110 staff, which included Department of Education and contract employees, were re-assigned to these other facilities. Those that remain are in areas cleared by the inspection.

The inspection found significant levels of mold in the center’s main building and adjoining structures. These form the core of the facility and include inmate housing, the gym, kitchen, dining hall, and administrative offices.

The vocational-technical training building remains operational. It will help Corrections continue to satisfy the statutory education and training needs of the youthful offender program that Anthony has hosted. The Denmar facility is 40 miles from Anthony, in neighboring Pocahontas County.

Corrections received the final inspection report on May 22. Further review of the report will help Corrections determine the best course for addressing the issues identified by the inspection.

Commissioner Jividen credits the Bureau for Public Health for its continuing guidance, which has greatly assisted her and her leadership team in the response to the inspection’s findings.

 

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LAWRENCE MESSINA (304) 558-2930 Lawrence.C.Messina@wv.gov