CHARLESTON — A fresh idea calling for West Virginia inmates to work on-site for private firms at prevailing wages and pay for a large chunk of their upkeep was touted Monday before a legislative panel.

And Juveniles Services Director Dale Humphreys promoted the expansion of day reporting centers for minors — including one proposed for Princeton — as a means of ultimately ending the staggering sum paid to keep young offenders in out-of-state facilities.

Back in the 1930s, owing to abuses, the federal government ended the concept of letting convicts work for private industries.

“But now, they’ve decided this is possible,” Humphreys said, while outlining the idea before the Oversight Committee on Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority.

Fifty variances are allowed, and West Virginia is in the running for the remaining eight, he said.

“What this does, it creates an opportunity for private industry if they meet certain criteria and can work inside our facilities to produce products which can be sold in interstate commerce,” Humphreys said.

Convicts can earn prevailing wages and up to 80 percent of what they collect could be applied toward room and board, medical attention, and the restitution of their victims, he explained.

“This is a way for them to pay their debt back to society,” he said.

“Inmates would have to meet a certain level of classification of security and qualify for a job just like they would have to inside. We do this all the time inside our facilities for other state agencies.”

Inmates could earn much more, however, and House Judiciary Chair Carrie Webster, D-Kanawha, suggested a portion of what they pocket be set aside in a savings account, thus providing them an incentive.

“We want them to do it right, and with a good attitude,” she said.

Humphreys agreed to the idea, saying a nest egg could be used for a resumption of school work and to jump-start a life upon release from a facility.

Webster cautioned that her House committee would likely scrutinize the idea closely, paying regard to such issues as liability when an inmate is hurt working for a private firm.

For now, Humphreys said he is working with West Virginia University on a greenhouse nursery concept.

“Greenhouse products can be delivered in the fall and picked up in the spring and sold in private areas all over the country,” he said.

Humphreys said he wants to add three more day reporting centers, giving the state eight such facilities, and launch a leadership academy as ways of weaning West Virginia off its policy of sending juveniles out of state.

This is costing the state $30 million a year, combined with out-of-home placement.

By picking up troubled youngsters after school daily for treatment at reporting centers and adding the leadership academy, Humphreys said the savings can be monumental.

Besides Princeton, Humphreys said he is considering day reporting centers in Putnam and Lincoln counties.

“I think in the next year or two, we should be able to stop most of that money from going out of state,” he predicted.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com