By Lewis Loflin
In 2014, I highlighted a disturbing shift in Wise County, Virginia: a sharp rise in crime that eroded the area’s reputation for safety. Unlike urban centers, Wise County once enjoyed relative calm despite challenges like poverty, underemployment, and substance abuse. Starting around 2011, however, drug-related crimes, property theft, and armed robberies surged. As we assess 2025, these issues linger, rooted in economic decline and missed opportunities. Addressing them requires focusing on community needs over ineffective projects.
Wise County’s struggles reflect broader Appalachian trends. The coal industry’s decline has left workers jobless, while public funds have been misdirected to initiatives that failed to deliver, like the now-defunct energy research center. My original article called for change, and today, we must renew that call with practical solutions.
In January 2014, WCYB reported an overload in Wise County’s circuit court, driven by a spike in criminal cases:
The criminal cases keep coming in to circuit court clerk’s office. Despite new technology enabling lawyers to file electronically, the cases are increasing. “34 percent. We’ve gone from roughly from 2,700 criminal prosecution cases in 2012 to the prosecution or initiation of about 4,100 in 2013,” Wise County circuit court clerk Jack Kennedy said.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Ron Elkins points to one reason for the increase in criminal court cases. “We certainly relate a lot of what we are seeing in my office to the downturn in the economy with the coal business locally and layoffs,” he said. “We’ve seen a significant increase in what we call property crimes, theft crimes.”
This wave, tied to economic distress and addiction, overwhelmed local jails and courts. Methamphetamine, prescription drugs, and bath salts fueled crimes like pharmacy robberies. These weren’t isolated events—they signaled a community in crisis.
As crime rose, Wise County poured millions into projects pitched as economic saviors. Most failed to help struggling residents:
| Project | Cost | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| UVA-Wise Convocation Center | $30 million | Limited local job creation |
| Energy Research Center | $20 million | Failed, no significant impact |
| Wise Inn Refurbishment | $12 million | Tourism-focused, minimal local benefit |
The energy research center, sold as a way to diversify beyond coal, collapsed without delivering jobs or economic relief, leaving taxpayers with nothing but costs.
The UVA-Wise convocation center enhanced the campus but offered little to displaced workers. The Wise Inn, refurbished for tourism, ignored pressing community needs. Meanwhile, poverty persisted—20% of Southwest Virginia’s children lived below the poverty line, as noted by Alpha Natural Resources’ president in 2009.
Corporate handouts worsened the disconnect. Alpha Natural Resources received $16 million to relocate offices from Abingdon to Bristol, promising jobs that vanished as coal layoffs mounted. Such deals enriched a few while leaving workers behind, eroding faith in local leadership.
In 2014, I described this as “social apartheid”—a divide between elites and residents. While the term is sharp, the issue remains: public funds must serve the broader community, not just the well-connected.
Crime in Wise County stems from economic hardship, addiction, and failed initiatives like the energy research center. To move forward, we need targeted action:
By prioritizing these steps, Wise County can reduce crime, rebuild trust, and foster opportunity for everyone.
Acknowledgment: I’d like to thank Grok, an AI by xAI, for helping me draft and refine this article. The final edits and perspective are my own.
