W.Va.'s 'Second-Chance' Law and How it's Helping People Re-Enter the Workforce

West Virginia is one of several states with a so-called “second chance” law. It lets people with a felony criminal record appeal to a judge to reduce their charge to a misdemeanor. The goal? To help them find work.

There’s a new version of the bill in the legislature this session. If it passes, it could allow a judeg to wipe out someone’s criminal record entirely. On this West Virginia Morning, WVPB’s podcast “Us and Them” looks at the debate over this issue – and host Trey Kay introduces us to Amber Miller. After a felony conviction more than 10 years ago, she completed a program as a medical assistant.

Also on today’s show, on last night’s episode of “The Legislature Today,” host Suzanne Higgins spoke with two delegates – both members of Gov. Jim Justice’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education. In December 2018, the commission was to report a recommendation on a funding formula for the state’s 4-year colleges and universities. We hear an excerpt from the interview.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.