SB 190
Relating to assault and battery on emergency service personnel, law-enforcement officers, and correctional employees
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House of Delegates
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to strengthen penalties for assaults and battery against law enforcement officers, correctional employees, and emergency medical service personnel in West Virginia. It clarifies the legal definitions of these offenses, specifically addressing malicious assault, unlawful assault, and battery, and establishes escalating penalties based on the severity of the crime and whether the victim was acting in their official capacity. The bill also includes provisions regarding repeat offenses and sentencing for individuals incarcerated in state correctional facilities.
Key provisions
- Defines ‘emergency service personnel,’ ‘law-enforcement officer,’ and ‘correctional employee’ for legal purposes.
- Increases penalties for malicious assault against these personnel, ranging from 3 to 15 years in prison.
- Increases penalties for unlawful assault against these personnel, ranging from 2 to 5 years in prison.
- Establishes misdemeanor penalties (with potential for jail time and fines) for battery against these personnel.
- Increases penalties for repeat offenses of battery.
- Specifies that a person convicted of these crimes while incarcerated may not have their sentence run concurrently with other sentences.
- Expands the definition of ‘law-enforcement officer’ to include chief executive officers.
- Addresses sentencing considerations for offenses involving correctional employees.
Who is affected
- Law enforcement officers
- Correctional employees
- Emergency medical service personnel
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