West Virginia Division of Corrections

Mission Statement

The purpose of the Charleston Work Release Center to provide a safe, secure and humane correctional facility for the public, staff and inmate population. The goal of Charleston Work Release Center is to provide inmates with the opportunity to re-enter society with the skills necessary to lead a law abiding, productive life and to be better prepared to transition back into the community without sacrificing public safety.

Leadership Biography

Jeffrey A. Stinnett, Administrator - Mr. Stinnett began his career with the WV Division of Corrections at Charleston Work Release Center as a Correctional Officer in 1993. He has served as a Correctional Counselor, Unit Manager, and as the Institutional Training Coordinator. In addition to his corrections experience, Mr. Stinnett is a West Virginia State University graduate and U.S. Air Force Veteran.

Personnel

• Administrator - Jeff Stinnett

History

The Charleston Work/Study Release Center was established in October of 1972, with the assistance of a Federal Grant. The Center was considered an extension of Huttonsville Correctional Center. It was located just off Kanawha Boulevard at #4 Columbia Avenue, in Charleston and was one of the first such facilities to open nationwide under this pilot project. The Center housed 25 male inmates that were carefully selected from Huttonsville.

The Center moved to its current location at 607 Brooks Street, Charleston, in April of 1982. During the period of 1983 to 1990 the Center housed up to 115 inmates both male and female. When Pence Springs closed on March 12, 1983, 29 female inmates were transferred to this facility. The center was grossly overcrowded.

Under reorganization and remodeling plan implemented in 1991, the center housed 48 males and 12 female inmates, for a total of 60.

In response to the rising female inmate population, the facility again underwent a slight re-modeling in 2006. Forty-six males and 18 females are now housed in the facility for a total of 64.

The two-story brick structure has six male rooms and five female rooms, six administrative offices, kitchen, dining and storage facilities and a renovated trailer, to accommodate AA/NA meetings, classes, etc. Inmates are encouraged to further their education by attending General Education Classes (GED), vocational classes, and college courses when applicable. They are also employed in the community in various jobs and pay a percentage of their income to the facility to help defray the cost of incarceration and save taxpayers money. They also utilize their opportunity in the work release program to begin paying child support, court costs or fines, and restitution they may owe. Charleston Work Release Center inmates also assist local communities through various community service projects.

Inmates assigned to the facility are minimum or community classification status and must be within eighteen months of parole eligibility or discharge. They are monitored for program compliance, tested for alcohol and drug use, and supervised when in the community through random phone calls, supervisor evaluations, and unannounced visits from staff.

Visitation

• Visiting hours are from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, and State Observed Holidays. 
• All visitors must be on an approved visitor list and have valid picture identification such as a driver’s license, non-driver’s state identification, military identification, etc. 
• Visitors are required to wear appropriate attire before admittance to the facility.  No revealing clothing is permitted in the facility.  If clothing is determined to be unsuitable for wear into the facility, entrance may be denied.
• Minor children must be accompanied by a guardian at all times. 
• All visitors are subject to search of person and property. Refusal to consent to search may result in denial of entry to facility.
• Any gifts, money, food, etc. must be turned in to the Correctional Officer in charge upon entry to the facility.  No home-made food is allowed.  Only food purchased at a restaurant, delicatessen, or fast food establishment is permitted.
• Visitors suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be denied entry.