Judge Dismisses Inmates' Lawsuit Against West Virginia Officials

A federal judge dismissed a class-action lawsuit against West Virginia Governor Jim Justice and Homeland Security Secretary Mark Sorsaia over alleged poor prison and jail conditions, citing lack of standing for the inmates. The lawsuit, seeking $330 million for improvements, highlighted issues like overcrowding and understaffing. The judge ruled that the governor and secretary were not directly responsible for the problems and could not be compelled to take certain actions. Despite claims of the state's improvements in staffing, the lawsuit's dismissal raises questions about addressing ongoing challenges in West Virginia's corrections system.