The legislation that established the commission as a subcommittee of the Governor's Committee on Crime, Delinquency, and Corrections (HB 4004, 2020 Regular Session) declared the need for:
- fair and uniform sentencing;
- research on issues regarding sentencing in order to promote a fuller understanding of the efficient, just, and fair operation of this state's criminal justice system;
- establishing priorities with regard to the severity of the criminal justice offenses; and
- the use of the limited correctional resources in the state in a manner best able to fulfill the goals of criminal punishment, rehabilitation, and protection of the public while preventing disparate treatment of offenders based on racial, ethnic, cultural, economic, or other factors related to the social status of the offender.
The commission consists of the following (inaugural) members, who serve without compensation (per §15-9C-2(c)):
Secretary Jeff Sandy, WV Department of Homeland Security;
Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney Perri DeChristopher (Commission Vice Chairperson): one of two members chosen by the president of the WV Prosecuting Attorneys Association;
Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Catie Delligatti, one of two members chosen by the president of the WV Prosecuting Attorneys Association;
Chief Public Defender Ronnie M. Sheets, Kanawha County Public Defenders Office (Commission Chairperson), one of two members chosen by the director of WV Public Defender Services;
Attorney Edmund Rollo, one of two members chosen by the director of WV Public Defender Services (can include panel attorneys who primarily do court-appointed criminal representation);
Parkersburg Police Chief Joseph Martin, member chosen by the executive director of the WV Chiefs of Police Association;
Wood County Sheriff Steve Stephens, member chosen by the executive director of the WV Sheriffs' Association;
Judge Jacob E. Reger, 26th Judicial Circuit, one of two current or senior status circuit court judges chosen by the executive committee of the WV Judicial Association;
Judge Robert E. Richardson, 11th Judicial Circuit, one of two current or senior status circuit court judges chosen by the executive committee of the WV Judicial Association;
Melissa Richmond, BS, CCJP, member chosen by the president of the WV Association on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors;
Delegate David Kelly, R-Tyler, ex officio; member of the WV Legislature chosen by the Speaker of the House of Delegates;
Sen. Charles H. Clements, R-Wetzel, ex officio; member of the WV Legislature, chosen by the President of the Senate;
Interim Dean John Taylor, WV University College of Law, professor of law with experience in the practice and teaching of criminal law appointed by the College of Law dean.
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