West Virginia

State Overview - State Summary - State Projects
Available Reports - Sample Data Collection Forms - Available Data - Links

State Overview

Domestic Violence Legislation:	Yes (§18.2-57.2 and see definitions)
Sexual Assault Legislation:	§61-8B
NIBRS Status:	Certified
Additional IBR Elements:	Yes
Law Enforcement DV System:	Incident-Based
Service Provider DV System:	Summary
Service Provider SA System:	Summary

State Summary

West Virginia does have broad domestic violence legislation that includes same-sex romantic partners. The state is certified to report NIBRS data to the FBI. The West Virginia State Police collects incident-based data from all law enforcement agencies in the state, including a separate optional domestic violence incident report. Data elements related to domestic violence are collected in addition to what is required for NIBRS; these include:

response time
action taken (arrest, referral, contact magistrate, transport)
name of complainant
whether complainant has called in the past
number of times the complainant called in the past
protection order on file at time of incident
protection order filed after incident
incident violated a protection order
time involved in the incident

The State Police will produce ad hoc reports upon request. The Division of Criminal Justice Services' Statistical Analysis Center has worked with domestic and sexual violence statistics; several reports are available on its Web site. Although no stalking data are currently collected, there are plans to collect this information in the future. There is no state database of protection orders.

The West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence collects summary information from all of the 14 licensed domestic violence service providers in the state. The providers enter information directly into a database, which is submitted to the Coalition annually. The Coalition is in the process of developing an annual report for the public. All data are available from the Coalition Web site. The West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services collects summary information from 9 rape crisis centers.

State Projects

The Role of Domestic Violence Orders of Protection in Arrests
The Division of Criminal Justice Services' Statistical Analysis Center is conducting a study to explore the role of protective orders in influencing arrests in domestic violence incidents and to examine the influence of other legal and non-legal characteristics of the offense as well as the demographic characteristics of the perpetrators and victims. A written report will also be available.

Violence Against Women Program Evaluations
The Division of Criminal Justice Services' Statistical Analysis Center evaluates the state Violence Against Women STOP teams and the Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Grant program. All evaluations are available from its Web site.

West Virginia Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Program
Recognizing that abused women and children living in rural West Virginia are faced with unique barriers to receiving assistance, the Division of Criminal Justice Services has provided financial assistance to the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence to better research and serve diverse and traditionally underserved populations in rural communities statewide. Project activities focus on four underserved populations that exist in rural communities throughout West Virginia: elderly, disabled, racial minorities, and gay and lesbian communities.

West Virginia Intercollegiate Council on Sexual Violence
The Intercollegiate Council began as a vision to establish a campus consortium to work collectively on the issue of sexual violence on the campuses of West Virginia’s residential colleges and universities. The mission of the council is to significantly reduce sexual offenses through the development of educational strategies, improvement of victim service responses, facilitation of information exchange and impact on policy-making.

Responsible Education for Self-Protection, Establishing Confidence and Trust (RESPECT)
RESPECT is a school-based curriculum designed to provide adolescent students grades 7-12 with the information and skills needed to prevent violence in their relationships now and in the future. Each of the five units provides class lesson plans, background information, handouts, activities, and an evaluation tool. RESPECT is designed to raise awareness and understanding about relationship violence through interactive lessons that include role plays, videos, discussions and special activities.

Available Reports

General Crime

West Virginia State Police. (Annual). Crime in West Virginia.
Turley, E. and Haas, S. M. (2007). Crime in WV cities: A comparative analysis of selected population groups and victim-offender relationships. Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center.
Turley, E. and Haas, S. M. (2006). Patterns of violent crime and weapon use, 2000 - 2004.. Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.

Domestic Violence

Lester, T., Haas, S. M., and Turley, E. (2007). Official reports of domestic violence victimization in WV: 2000 - 2005.. Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
Family Protection Services Board. (2005). FY2004 annual report.
Turley, E. and Haas, S. M. (2005). Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Program project evaluation 2002-2004. Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (2004). Domestic Violence/Child Victimization Study and Policy Working Group interim report 2000 - 2002.
West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (2004). Public deliberation project final report.
Family Protection Services Board. (2002). FY2001 annual report.
Turley, E. (2002). Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Program project evaluation 2000-2002. Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.

Sexual Assault

Ruggerio, K. J. and Kilpatrick, D. G. (2003). One in nine: Rape in West Virginia. National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center.
West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services. (2003). Sexual assault in West Virginia: An informational handbook.
Turley, E. and Hutzel, L. (2001). WV sex offender study. Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
Turley, E. (2000). Sexual assault victims. Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.

Violence Against Women

Hamilton, C. and Turley, E. (2007). West Virginia STOP Violence Against Women project evaluation FY04. Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
Brown, M. P., DeTardo-Bora, K., and Bora, D. J. (2005). West Virginia STOP Violence Against Women project evaluation FY02. Marshall University, Criminal Justice Department.
Turley, E. and Haas, S. M. (2004). West Virginia STOP Violence Against Women project evaluation.. Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
Collins, T. and Turley, E. (2003). Stop Violence Against Women - Project evaluation July 2001-June 2002. Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
Morrison, B. and Turley, E. (2002). STOP Violence Against Women - Project evaluation July 2000-June 2001. Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
Turley, E. (2001). STOP Violence Against Women - Project evaluation July 1999-June 2000. Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
West Virginia Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center. (2000). STOP Violence Against Women - Statistical summary of persons served July 1998 - June 1999. Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
Hutzel, L. (1999). STOP Violence Against Women - Statistical summary of persons served July 1997 - June 1998. Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.

Sample Data Collection Forms

The West Virginia State Police collect incident-based domestic violence information using this report form:

Domestic Incident Report

The West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence collects a wide range of summary data using this database:

Domestic Violence Service Providers Report Form

The Office of the Court of Claims collects information from victims applying for compensation using this form:

Crime Victims Compensation Fund Application

Available Data