Darrin Lester's Last Stand

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Darrin Lester died, sounding the alarm, shedding light on a broken incarceration system. After spending 12 years in the Mount Olive Correctional Complex, while building a hospice program among other programs inside prison, Lester transformed his life, reentered society, and was pursuing a graduate degree in social work at West Virginia University following his release. Tragically, his life was cut short, a victim of substandard healthcare during his time behind bars.

Lester’s voice was instrumental in exposing the prison system’s inadequate response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlighted the scarcity of testing and medical attention within the prison, resulting in countless cases going undetected and untreated. Personally, he experienced the devastating consequences, transitioning from a healthy individual to a victim of double pneumonia and stage-four kidney failure. Lester’s words echo the systemic issues plaguing the prison healthcare system, stating unequivocally, “It’s killing West Virginians and ruining lives.”

The alarming statistics extend beyond individual stories like Lester’s. West Virginia incarcerates more people than any nation on the globe, and the data supports this staggering claim. Amid West Virginia’s substantial population decline, losing 10,370 residents in a single year from July 2021 to 2022, the state inexplicably incarcerates 731 out of every 100,000 West Virginians, amounting to approximately 11,000 individuals at any given time.

In a span of just one year, between 2021 and 2022, West Virginia lost 10,370 residents, yet it persists in locking up its citizens at rates unparalleled in the world. Credible data from institutions like the Prison Policy Initiative and the West Virginia Center for Budget Policy paints a sobering picture: the state incarcerates 731 out of every 100,000 residents, and when considering annual jail bookings, this number swells to an astounding 34,000 unique individuals per year.

Deeper analysis of these figures reveals a disturbing racial disparity. African Americans, constituting just 3.5% of West Virginia’s population, bear the brunt of this crisis, incarcerated at a rate 3.5 times higher than their white counterparts, constituting nearly 12% of the state’s incarcerated population.

When one accounts for the annual bookings in local jails, this number escalates to a staggering 34,000 unique individuals annually, as substantiated by data from the Prison Policy Initiative and the West Virginia Center for Budget Policy.

Historical context provides some understanding of this mounting crisis. Over the past four decades, West Virginia has witnessed a steady increase in incarceration rates, fueled by policies such as mandatory minimum sentences and the ongoing war on drugs. While perhaps unintended, these policies have created an environment where incarceration rates soar. The state’s economic challenges may have further exacerbated the situation, contributing to heightened crime rates and, consequently, higher rates of imprisonment.

The repercussions of this burgeoning incarceration crisis reach into every facet of West Virginian society. Economically, it’s distressing to realize that a significant segment of the working-age population languishes behind bars, rendering them unproductive. The financial burden of maintaining such an extensive penal system drains resources that could be better allocated to sectors like education and infrastructure. Moreover, families of the incarcerated grapple with the loss of income, pushing them further into the cycle of poverty.

The financial hardships endured by incarcerated individuals and their families are glaring:

A 15-minute jail phone call costs an inmate $3.15, while a similar call from prison amounts to a mere 45¢.

The pandemic led to the suspension of the $5 medical copay for inmates, prompting calls for its permanent removal.

Sending a mere $20 to an inmate incurs a $2.75 fee.

Definitions surrounding ‘indigence’ remain ambiguous, raising concerns about the costs of basic necessities for the most financially vulnerable inmates.

Inmates engaged in prison labor receive paltry wages, sometimes as meager as 4¢ per hour.

The true cost of West Virginia’s incarceration crisis is human. Families fracture, leaving children to grow up with absent parents. The psychological strain on both inmates and their loved ones is palpable. Upon release, many face societal stigmas that hinder their reintegration into society. Scarce job opportunities further diminish their chances, increasing the likelihood of them returning to the confines of prison.

So, what lies ahead for West Virginia? The path forward demands a multifaceted approach. Prioritizing community programs, counseling, drug rehabilitation, and vocational training could provide a lifeline for those teetering on the edge and for some the pursuit of abolition.

Rest in peace, Darrin. In remembering Darrin Lester and countless others like him, the urgency for change becomes palpable.

This article contains information from the Prison Policy Initiative, the West Virginia Center for Budget Policy, the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia, and the Public News Service.