(a) As a condition of probation or bail or as an alternative sentence to another form of incarceration for any criminal violation of this code over which a circuit court has jurisdiction, a circuit court may order an offender confined to the offender's home for a period of home incarceration. As an alternative sentence to incarceration in jail for any criminal violation of this code over which a magistrate court has jurisdiction or as a condition of bail for a criminal violation of this code over which a magistrate court has jurisdiction to set bail, a magistrate may order an offender confined to the offender's home for a period of electronically monitored home incarceration: Provided, That electronic monitoring may not be required in a specific case if a circuit court upon petition thereto finds by order that electronic monitoring is not necessary.

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Terms Used In West Virginia Code 62-11B-4

  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
  • Home: means the actual living area of the temporary or permanent residence of an offender. See West Virginia Code 62-11B-3
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Offender: means any adult convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment or detention in a county jail or state penitentiary. See West Virginia Code 62-11B-3
  • Offense: includes every act or omission for which a fine, forfeiture, or punishment is imposed by law. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.

(b) The period of home incarceration may be continuous or intermittent, as the circuit court or magistrate court orders. However, the aggregate time actually spent in home incarceration may not exceed the term of imprisonment or incarceration prescribed by this code for the offense committed by the offender.

(c) A grant of home incarceration under this article constitutes a waiver of any entitlement to deduction from a sentence for good conduct under the provisions of section twenty-seven, article five, chapter twenty-eight of this code.

(d) When imposing home incarceration as a condition of bail, a magistrate shall do so consistent with guidelines promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals.