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In what seemed to be a push for a new prison in the Mountain State, the state Supreme Court's Compliance Committee is now saying it is opposed to its' construction.
Supreme Court Administrator Steve Canterbury says the seven-member compliance group believes the state would be best served by fully supporting alternative sentencing programs.
Canterbury said, "We would perhaps not need to spend $200-million dollars or more in the construction of a new prison or new cells."
The $200-million cost for such a facility is only the beginning, with operational costs running in the millions annually.
The dozen recommendations by the compliance committee called for a review of the state's sentencing structure, giving more non-violent offenders opportunities for probation and fully funding programs like drug courts.
"Let's give these a try before we spend a huge amount of money," Canterbury commented.
Gov. Joe Manchin has recommended a new 1,200-bed medium-security prison and adding cells at St. Marys Prison in Pleasants County.
Canterbury says 1,500 West Virginians are currently involved in alternative programs.
He said if all were in jail, it would cost the state about $30 million. Those programs cost about $4 million.
In WV, 70 percent of the current prison population is made up of non-violent offenders, with the national average at 40 percent.
Under the current sentencing system, there is overcrowding. | 
