Amy Summers - District 49 | ACLU West Virginia

Please provide some basic information about yourself.

Name Amy Summers

Office Sought WV House of Delegates 49

City/Town Flemington

From 1980 to 2016 the West Virginia state prison population has increased by 470%. What, if anything, would you change to reverse this trend?

Legislature passed criminal justice reform, bail reform and now a sentencing commission to review all penalties in the state code.

Civil asset forfeiture is a process where police can seize any property "related" to criminal activity and later can file a civil case to forfeit the property to either be used or auctioned for money which is shared between the police department and local prosecutor. This can happen regardless of whether there is a criminal conviction or even criminal charges brought against a person.Proponents say this is a useful tool for taking ill-gotten gains from criminals and funding police work, and that legal protections adequately prevent abuse of the system.Critics say the system amounts to theft, that many people cannot afford the legal costs to challenge a forfeiture action, and that it creates a perverse incentive for police.Do you support or oppose the practice of civil asset forfeiture? What, if any, reforms would you make to the practice?

Taking of ones property prior to a conviction is wrong. 2020 legislature had a bill to look at it but it did not do anything to stop the practice. Continued work needs done to draft proper legislation on how and when property can be seized.

More than half the population of West Virginia's regional jails are pre-trial. That means they haven't been found guilty of any crime yet. Most are there because they could not afford bail, though some are there because they were denied a chance to post bail. What changes, if any would you make to our pretrial and/or bail system to balance concerns about safety and court efficiency with ensuring we are not incarcerating people without due process?

Sponsored House bill 4008 during 2020 Legislation on bail reform

In 2015 West Virginia passed significant reforms to the juvenile justice system. Despite these reforms, the State still utilizes out of home placement at a high rate for system-involved youth. What, if anything, should West Virginia do to reduce out-of-home placements for system-involved juveniles?

I supported those changes in 2015 and voted for them. It appears to me that the support services were just not in place to care for these children and provide assistance for the families. With the 2019 federal Families First Program I hope to see an impact on that number.

West Virginia has a very low voter participation rate. What changes, if any, would you make to increase voter participation?

WV offers a variety of voting options: Absentee, early voting, in person voting on election day and a mobile app for those living overseas. Also passed this past legislative session an expansion of the online WV portal to certain voters with physical disabilities which I supported.

Over the past few years, there has been legislation aimed at requiring the Bible to be taught in public schools, allowing a Bible-based elective, or faith-based drug prevention electives. What is your stance on incorporating religion into the public schools?

I support elective course on all types of religion but not a requirement.

At least 20 states have passed laws prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. 13 West Virginia municipalities have similar protections. Do you support or oppose a statewide law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in West Virginia? Why?

The US Supreme Court has interpreted the meaning of "sex" in their recent court decision prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. I agree we do not want to discriminate against any person and the federal government has ruled on that topic just as they did on same sex marriage in which no state law was required. If municipalities want to pass such ordinances for housing I support their right to do so.

In December 2019, Governor Justice announced that West Virginia would continue accepting refugees. Do you support or oppose accepting refugees in West Virginia? Under what conditions? Why?

I think we need to be very cautious as ISIS and other groups infiltrate WV via these opportunities. FBI employees and family members in WV have been threatened by a "refugee" group coming in through Louisiana. Unless you have received those threats you may not be aware. We may see less wanting to come here as Americans portray our country in such bad light.

Q10

Over the past few years, some states have continued to erode protections and access to abortion care. Other states have done the opposite and codified abortion rights that had previously been defined by courts. Do you favor further restrictions to abortion, expanding or codifying abortion rights, or taking no action on abortion?

I am personally against abortion as I see it as murder of another person. I am also against the death penalty.