Brandon Steele - District 29 | ACLU West Virginia

Please provide some basic information about yourself.

Name Brandon Steele

Office Sought House of Delegates, District 29

City/Town Beckley, WV

Email Address electbrandonsteele@gmail.com

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

I would increase the felony limit for grand larceny to $2,500.00, strengthen alternative sentencing programs and laws, and eliminate "class enhancements" on certain crimes. For instance, malicious wounding of a government official, teacher, school coach, bus driver, motorman, is still, in essence, just malicious wounding. DMAPS estimates that as many as 1000 inmates would potentially be released by the adjustment of grand larceny alone.

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?

I support the practice. I have no problem with reporting requirements being placed on the police, as long as they are not to onerous. I would support the reporting requirements that are utilized by the federal system.

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?

I believe our bail system keeps accountability on defendants to show up for court. I think one of the problems is a speedy trial issue. I would ensure magistrate availability for the setting of bond 24 hours a day, and I would support legislation that prevented prosecutors from continuing criminal trials without good cause shown.

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 support the family drug court model, and I believe that elements of that could be utilized to assist in status offense cases, as well as other juvenile cases.

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

I would continue to try and speed our motor-voter legislation to be enacted.

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 these concepts on an elective basis.

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?

Oppose. Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity are not immutable characteristics such as race, gender, disability status, national origin, and age. Sexual Orientation and Gender identity can change, and often does change, and the concept of discrimination that is chargeable under the proposed laws is to vague and subjective.

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 support it.

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 support any and all legislation that would ban abortion.