The State of West Virginia is Failing Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors—Demand Reliable Notifications AND Automatic Protective Orders Now!
We, West Virginia survivors of childhood sexual assault and abuse, are being revictimized by a broken system. Under WV Code §62-12-23, the state must notify victims of parole hearings and releases at least 45 days in advance via certified mail—after survivors complete all required paperwork post-sentencing. Prosecutors prepare the form with our contact info, but the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) and Parole Board fail to follow through. Addresses go outdated, VINE registrations are ignored, and phone/email backups aren’t used. We miss our right to submit victim impact statements, speak at open hearings, or even know when our abusers walk free.[code.wvlegislature +2]
This isn’t justice—it’s betrayal. Survivors like us deserve safety, closure, and the voice the law promises. Systemic failures deny us that, leaving us blindsided and terrified. As a survivor, I believe every survivor should receive an automatic protective order activated the day the offender is released from prison—no extra paperwork, no delays. This ensures immediate no-contact enforcement, GPS monitoring if needed, and law enforcement alerts, giving us the protection we earned through our trauma.[code.wvlegislature]
Join us in demanding:
• Annual verification of victim contacts using certified mail, email, phone, and VINE integration.
• Mandatory audits of notification compliance in sexual abuse cases, with public failure reports.
• Dedicated funding for a Survivor Notification Coordinator and 24/7 hotline.
• Penalties for non-compliance, plus automatic alerts for all registered survivors.
• Automatic protective orders for survivors upon offender release—no exceptions for childhood sexual abuse cases.[code.wvlegislature]
Governor Jim Justice, DCR Commissioner William Marshall, Parole Board Chair, and Legislators: Enforce victims’ rights now. No more excuses. Protect us before it’s too late.
Sign, share, and stand with survivors. Print for local events in Fairmont and beyond. We’ll deliver signatures to the State Capitol (1900 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV 25305), DCR Victim Services (304-558-2036), and your legislators.
Thank you for fighting for us.
Megan White, Survivor & Petitioner  
Fairmont, WV