Shine a Light: SRJ - West Virginia Doles Out Death Penalty for Petty Crimes
- cjones532
- Mar 3, 2023
- 7 min read
Shine a Light: SRJ
The Southern Regional Jail of Beaver, West Virginia has been making headlines as an alarmingly deadly correctional facility for the last several years. 13 inmates have died this year, and 100 over the last decade. Being incarcerated at SRJ is so dangerous that it is drawing national attention. Initially built to house around 300 inmates, an addition of bunks was built to increase capacity to 468. Per the latest audit, SRJ was housing an average of 717 inmates per day, operating at 166% capacity on most days of the year. The annual report states that SRJ has been overcrowded, or housing more than 468 inmates per day, for the last ten years.
Four correctional officers employed or formerly employed at Southern Regional Jail have been cited in a recent lawsuit claiming ongoing violations of eighth and fourteenth amendment rights which address the states responsibility to provide adequate food, water, shelter and hygiene items to inmates as well as the reasonable protection from the ongoing threat of violence and sexual assault. The CO’s cited in the lawsuit describe six inmates routinely being held in two person cells, with overflow into common areas and up to sixteen inmates at a time living and sleeping on the dayroom floor.
Inmates that live and sleep in common areas are not protected by locking cells and are subject to higher instances of physical violence, sexual assault, and rape as described in the lawsuit by all four correctional officers. Additionally, the two single person suicide watch cells are used to house 8-16 inmates at a time, often without supervision. These conditions lead to increased instances of physical and sexual violence as well as creating an issue of water and toilet access.
Inmates that are housed in these areas do not have access to toilets or water when cells are locked down. Cells are typically supposed to be locked for six hours overnight, however, the correctional officers in the lawsuit describe short staffing issues that lead to cells being locked down for long periods of time.
Inmates that are housed in traditional cells are nearly always shared with more people than the cell was designed to hold, leaving one or two inmates to sleep on the floor. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that the antiquated plumbing system in the facility causes frequent toilet leaks, clogs, and floods. The lawsuit further alleges that the crate style mattresses are subject to sewer water leakage with no way for inmates to clean or wash personal items.
An internal document from one employee to another addressing the severity of the plumbing issue has been leaked online and describes in detail which cells are without running water or experiencing other plumbing issues like leaking toilets, non-working toilets, and broken sinks. In November of 2022, 40 cells are noted to be without running water. The document is asking for support and maintenance for these issues, however, the jail denies that any cells within their facility lack water or toilet access.
Many believe the combination of overcrowding and short staffing have led to the sky rocketing death rate at SRJ. In the last year alone, 13 inmates have died during their incarceration at Southern Regional. Over the past two years, more than 20 inmates have passed away at or shortly after release from SRJ. The facility has experienced a 12-fold increase in deaths over the last four years but has made no statement addressing what has caused the spike in deaths.
Particularly disturbing allegations in the lawsuit detail that inmates are regularly taken into areas without cameras by staff and beaten as punishment for talking back and voicing concerns. Correctional officers describe the process as common, and when severe, dropping inmates off to nursing staff stating they sustained injuries after a “slip in the shower.” Inmate to inmate violence is also common and difficult to report. Call boxes are stationed throughout the facility but are dated and often in non-working condition. Inmates that are attacked are often left with the option of screaming for help as the best means for communication. Correctional officers in the lawsuit state these cries are often ignored or unable to be addressed without leaving another section of the jail unsupervised.
Inmates that are housed for petty crimes are often housed with inmates that are serving time for violent crimes. The majority of inmates at Southern Regional Jail have not been convicted of a crime, but are unable to pay the bail fees and are then jailed until their case can be heard in court. The Covid pandemic has led to lengthy delays in trials and other court hearings, leaving some inmates in perpetuity over crimes like littering and shoplifting.
All of this leads to a larger conversation about the criminalization of poverty and how it is affecting the overcrowding of jails and prisons. I connected with Miranda Smith, daughter of Alvis Shrewsbury, an inmate who died at Southern Regional last year.
Alvis Shrewsbury had turned himself in on a driving under the influence charge in August of 2022. 19 days later, he passed away from injuries sustained during a brutal beating. Miranda shared, “He worked in the logging industry all of his adult life and lent his handyman skills whenever and wherever needed. He was a very kind and understanding man.” If you needed help with a project, Alvis was your man.
Like many West Virginians, Alvis was affected by the opioid epidemic. Initially, his family felt that he could serve his time at SRJ, where he would be able to safely get clean and start fresh upon his release. “We imagined it being a form of rehabilitation where he would be forced to overcome his battle and come out an even better man than when he went in.”
Miranda remained in contact with her father during his incarceration over phone, letters, and video calls. On September 10th, 2022, Alvis was visibly weak with bruising to his face. He was unable to complete the phone call with his family because standing was extremely difficult. His family learned Alvis had been attacked by three other inmates and was in a great deal of pain. Despite Alvis trying to notify the PrimeCare nursing staff of his injuries and his inability to use the restroom since the attack, family members were told he sustained no injuries.
Miranda requested her father be moved from the pod where he was attacked, but no efforts were made to accommodate this request. Alvis passed away shortly after this communication. The family had an independent autopsy performed which indicated Alvis passed away from injuries that caused internal bleeding of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Alvis received no medical care during his stay at SRJ and his family firmly believes if his injuries had been addressed in a timely manner, he would be alive today. While devastating, Alvis’s story is not unique.
Earlier this year a particularly brutal attack at SRJ again made headlines. Kimberly Gilley was to be briefly incarcerated for a probation violation related to shoplifting. Her daughter in law, Jamie shared with me that the jail has been largely uncooperative in helping them understand how and what took place that led to the attack that killed Kim. Jamie believes four other inmates attacked Kim in an effort to see if she had drugs stashed in her body. She was brutally attacked and sexually assaulted. The severity of this attack led to Kim being hospitalized where her family was eventually notified that she was on life support with no brain activity. Her family is devastated that a brief stay in hopes of getting her life back on track led to a horrific attack that was not stopped or addressed by correctional officers until it was far too late for Kim. Kim Gilley loved her children and was known for having a big personality, smile, and heart.
There are numerous other cases with similarities to these. Lack of medical care, medication, and mental health treatment have caused other untimely deaths. A former inmate who went without treatment for schizophrenia was released without supervision and later found dead in the woods surrounding the area of the jail. Additional cases include Quantez Burks, who sustained blunt force trauma that led to his death within 24 hours of his incarceration. His family was notified by the jail that he passed from a heart attack. If not for their own independent autopsy, they would not have known his cause of death to be related to an attack within the jail.
A simple google search will produce more links and stories of this nature than can fit in a single article. It is my hope that awareness can shine a light on the conditions of SRJ and lead to improvements for all West Virginians that are affected by incarceration. A petition supported by the Poor People’s Campaign of West Virginia is included in hopes of an independent investigation into the conditions at SRJ (not done by state employees.) The death penalty is not a fitting punishment for petty crimes.
Pictured: Alvis Shrewsbury
SOURCES
Miranda Smith
Jamie Gilley
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