Commissioner Jim Rubenstein
Jim Rubenstein was appointed Commissioner of the WVDOC in June 2001, after serving as Acting Commissioner since February 2001. He is tasked with the responsibility to oversee the day to day operations of the Division of Corrections throughout the entire State of West Virginia.
Mr. Rubenstein has a Masters in Leadership Studies from Marshall University and over three decades in the corrections profession. Mr. Rubenstein began his career with Corrections in 1973 as a Correctional Officer at the Forestry Camp for Boys. He also served as a Recreation Coordinator, a Correctional Officer, and a Counselor at the WV Industrial School for Boys. Mr. Rubenstein went on to serve as a Corrections Case Manager and Corrections Unit Manager at Pruntytown Correctional Center. In 1994, he was named Superintendent of Anthony Correctional Center. In late 1998, he was named Deputy Warden of St. Marys Correctional Center and was instrumental in the conversion of that facility from a state hospital to a medium security correctional institution. On June 1, 1999, he was appointed to the position of Deputy Commissioner of Institutional Operations and served in that position until his appointment as Commissioner. His qualifications and skills offer him a unique opportunity to bring insight and experience to the WVDOC. His career in corrections has prepared him with the management abilities, training and development skills, and interpersonal communications expertise necessary to promote programs, technology and training within the WVDOC.
Commissioner Rubenstein is affiliated with the following organizations: Member of the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA), member of the American Correctional Association (ACA), Secretary for the Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority Board, member and former President of the WV Association of Correctional Employees (WV ACE), member of Southern States Correctional Association (SSCA), member of the WV Interstate Compact for Supervision of Adult Offenders, member of Holley Strength Systems, Buckhannon Power Team, United States Power Lifting Federation, Honorary Member of Grafton Rotary Club, and National Association of Strength Athletes.
Deputy Commissioner James J. Ielapi
James J. Ielapi began his career with the West Virginia Division of Corrections in 1981, serving as the Director of the Instructional Media Center at the West Virginia Industrial Home for Youth. In 1987, he became the Deputy Superintendent of the facility, serving in that position for two years. In 1989 he was named Superintendent. He served in that capacity and was responsible for the operations of the facility for the next ten years.
With an opportunity to expand his career into adult corrections, he transferred to the Pruntytown Correctional Center in 1998, as the Associate Warden of Operations. In 2002 he was appointed Warden of Pruntytown Correctional Center. During his tenure the facility experienced a significant change with the transfer of female offenders to another facility, making Pruntytown a male only facility for the first time in years. The population also expanded and saw an increase in its custody level with the addition of more medium custody inmates. Also during his tenure, Pruntytown became accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA) and Correctional Educational Association (CEA), while also being re-accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).
With over thirty years of experience in corrections management, Mr. Ielapi was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Corrections effective April 16, 2011, by Commissioner Jim Rubenstein.
During his career, Mr. Ielapi has served on various state-level committees such as the Legislative Commission on Juvenile Law, the Legislative Subcommittee on Juvenile Law and Detention, and the Governor’s Committee on Crime, Delinquency and Corrections. He also holds membership in the Southern States Correctional Association and the Correctional Peace Officer Foundation. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration/Retailing from Fairmont State College.
Assistant Commissioner Jan Chamberlain
A thirty-nine year veteran of the WVDOC, Mr. Chamberlain initially began his career as a Counselor at the former West Virginia Penitentiary. He was instrumental in the establishment of a Classification Unit for the facility.
Prior to the closing of the West Virginia Penitentiary and following an upgrade to the position of Corrections Program Manager I, Mr. Chamberlain became directly responsible for preparing Operational Procedures for both the Northern Regional Jail and Correctional Center and the Mount Olive Correctional Complex, prior to their opening. He also responded to requests for information as directed by the Warden and/or Deputy Warden.
Upon the opening of the Northern Regional Jail and Correctional Center, he continued to draft, update, and disseminate Operational Procedures for the facility. In addition to completing special projects at the request of the Warden, he also served as the Project Manager for the ACA accreditation process. As the Project Manager, he was responsible for the coordination of efforts of staff members involved in the accreditation process by ensuring compliance with mandated standards.
In July of 1999, Mr. Chamberlain was appointed Assistant Commissioner for the Northern District of West Virginia. In addition, he coordinates the work effort of WVDOC’s ACA Accreditation Managers as they pursue ACA accreditation. He is also responsible for drafting, revising, and issuing the Division’s Policy Directives.
Mr. Chamberlain’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts Degree from West Liberty State College. In honor of his years of dedication and service to the Division, he was selected as the Employee of the Year for 1998 at the Northern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility.