Inmates at the Southern Regional Jail can file their claims online as part of a class action lawsuit

BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) – As part of a $4 million settlement agreement related to unconstitutional conditions at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, many current and former inmates can now file a lawsuit.

On July 19, U.S. federal court Judge Frank Volk gave his preliminary approval to the settlement, which was the result of a class-action lawsuit filed by Beckley attorney Stephen New on behalf of the prison inmates.

A settlement hearing will be held on October 25 at 12:30 p.m. in Beckley Federal Court.

The settlement affects anyone who was an inmate between September 22, 2020, and July 19, 2024. They can now file a claim on the website WVsrjsettlement.com.

New said they can also apply by calling 1-888-398-7011. About 1,200 inmates have already applied, and about 7,700 more are eligible.

An investigation into conditions at the state facility began in 2022 after the WVVA published a series of articles about conditions there, including water shortages, unsanitary living conditions and overcrowded cells.

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