A New Prison for West Virginia?

State corrections officials tell legislators that the rising inmate population makes the need nearly unavoidable, The Register-Herald of Beckley reports.

Expecting 8,530 people sentenced to prison by 2012, "West Virginia has space for only 5,300 prisoners, and currently, the 10-unit regional jail system is housing 1,200 convicts since there is no room for them," the article said. "A new prison would cost in the neighborhood of $200 million."

The Charleston Gazette also covered that legislative interim meeting. It notes that lawmakers were told that " changes in sentencing appear to be one factor."

"Since 2000, the number of inmates sentenced on drug charges has jumped 9.7 percent, while those convicted of property crimes has increased 5.7 percent," that article said. Five years ago, "62 percent of inmates in state prisons were violent offenders. Now, a majority of inmates are serving time for non-violent offenses."