Name Theresa Jackson
Office Sought WV House of Delegates
Party Affiliation Democrat
District 21
City/Town Hurricane, Culloden, Teays Valley
Campaign Website www.jacksontakesaction.com
Data shows that Black and low-income students are disciplined at a higher rate than their peers in West Virginia schools. Involvement of School Resource Officers (SROs) exacerbates these discrepancies and can lead to the school-to-prison pipeline. Studies show SROs do little to make schools safer, while contributing to harsher discipline and drawing resources away from other services like mental health and other support services. What is your position on having SROs in schools?
I think that SRO's can be positive influences in school buildings if provided the proper training and when they take time to build relationships with students. Rather than removing them from schools completely, I think changing their roles, goals, training, and requirements could have a big impact. Making those changes while simultaneously increasing the number of social workers and mental health professionals in schools and having those professionals respond to more student problems would do a lot to help.
Mental health has been a growing concern since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Conversations on mental health are complicated by the prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD) in the state. WV has long wait times for mental health services including SUD treatment. One proposal is using mental health teams as first responders. Would you support funding for more mental health response teams? Why or why not, and what if any is the role of the legislature in solving this issue?
Absolutely! I believe that most issues can be resolved by mental health teams and that those teams are more likely to provide services that prevent later issues. The legislature can allot funding for these teams, create oversight entities to monitor them, and consult with experts to create goals and accountability measures.
In Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In response, the West Virginia Legislature banned most abortions. Do you agree or disagree with this new law? What do you think West Virginia's abortion policies should be?
I disagree. I think that abortion is necessary healthcare regardless of the reasoning and should not be restricted by the state.
Several West Virginia municipalities have passed ordinances that expand the definition of racial discrimination to include discriminating against traditional or natural hair textures and styles. Would you support expanding this protection statewide? Why or why not?
Yes! We should have passed the Crown act several sessions ago. It is common sense.
Many states have created laws that seek to limit the teaching of "divisive concepts" or "critical race theory.” West Virginia narrowly missed passing a similar law during the 2022 Legislative Session. What is the value or harm in teaching these topics and what role should the legislature play in determining this curriculum?
We should not be telling teachers not to teach true history or discuss that history's impact on current affairs. Teaching these topics is a necessary part of understanding our own history and recognizing how events unfolded and continue to impact our lives today. The state legislature should not be determining curriculum, that should be the job of experts at the WVDE.
Currently there is no statewide law protecting people in matters of employment, housing, and public accommodations based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Do you support or oppose adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s nondiscrimination law? Why or why not?
Yes! It should have been included from the start.
There is increasing tension with communities of people who are unhoused or face housing insecurity. Police breakups of encampments are common, and municipalities have shown growing opposition to low-barrier housing and recovery housing. How would you address community concerns while protecting the rights of unhoused people?
I think creating opportunities for people to access the help they need is far more productive than punishing them. Creating more easily accessible housing options and providing social workers and mental health professionals to help transition folks into long term solutions should be the focus of our legislation.
Jails in West Virginia are overcrowded, have some of the nation’s highest death rates, and are bankrupting some counties. Prisons are understaffed, making them dangerous for residents and staff alike. What steps should West Virginia take to address these issues?
I think one of the first steps is to release non-violent, cannabis related offenders. Next we need to look at minimum sentencing requirements and the pre-trial incarceration rules. I wish i was more of an expert on this topic, but honestly I would consult with experts in the field and consider their recommendations on interrupting the school to prison pipeline, ending mass incarceration, increasing support for released individuals, and other related issues.
Taxpayers who have served time behind bars and are currently on probation and/or parole cannot vote in West Virginia. The West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee joined a growing number of states this year and passed a bill that would have expanded that right to people in community corrections. When, if ever do you think people should lose their right to vote? When should that right be restored?
I'm not sure that I believe a person should ever lose their right to vote. At a minimum people released after serving their time should be able to vote.
Study after study shows that gender-affirming care is lifesaving for trans people. And yet, some states have banned things like hormone therapy and even labeled gender-affirming care for minors as child abuse. How can West Virginia, a state with a large percentage of trans-identifying teens, best protect transgender people?
Gender-affirming care is essential healthcare. The state should not be involved in deciding what patients need.