July 24, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lynette Maselli
304.357.7809
Lynette.Maselli@wvsenate.gov

KESSLER NAMES JUVENILE JUSTICE TASK FORCE MEMBERS
CHARLESTON, W.V. Senate President Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall) announced today the
appointment of five senators to serve on the West Virginia Intergovernmental Task Force on
Juvenile Justice.
Speaking on behalf of the senators named to the task force, we look forward to working with
the Governor in order to find data-driven solutions to the problems plaguing our juvenile justice
system, says Kessler.
The task force was formed through an executive order earlier this year and is similar to the
Justice Reinvestment Act that the Governor created in 2012. It will focus on reviewing and
making needed and necessary changes to West Virginias juvenile justice system.
Im naming Senate Majority Whip Bill Laird (D-Fayette) head of the senate delegation to the
task force, says Kessler. His extensive law enforcement background, in addition to him serving
on the Council of State Governments prison overcrowding working group, will be extremely
beneficial to the task force.
Senate Majority Leader John Unger (D-Berkeley), who Kessler calls a staunch advocate for
children that works tirelessly on childrens issues, and Senator Donald Cookman (D-Hampshire)
have been named to the task force as well.
Senator Cookman, through his service as a circuit court judge, will be a key member of the task
force, says Kessler. Senator Cookman has witnessed the problems facing our juvenile justice
system from the inside and this first-hand knowledge will prove beneficial.
Senators Clark Barnes (R-Randolph), who Kessler says worked closely with the prison
overcrowding working group in 2012 and Chris Walters (R-Putnam), who serves on the Senate
Judiciary Committee, round out the senate members of the bi-partisan task force.
Overhauling the states juvenile justice system is a big undertaking that affects everyone, says
Kessler. I am confident that the senators I named to the task force will work hard to develop
recommendations that will ultimately improve outcomes for youth, families and communities.

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