(a) The Bureau shall be completely responsible for the maintenance, supervision and administration of the following institutions and services:
(1) All institutions within the Virgin Islands for the care, custody and correction of persons detained or committed for felonies or misdemeanors.
(2) Probation services for courts having jurisdiction over adult criminal offenders.
(3) Parole services for persons committed by criminal courts to institutions within the Bureau. The parole board established by chapter 407 of this subtitle shall be continued and shall be responsible for those duties specified in said chapter 407.
(b) The Bureau may establish and operate institutions for misdemeanants.
(c) The Bureau shall administer the Virgin Islands' share of all federal funds for corrections related purposes made available under Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 or any succeeding federal law.
(d) The Bureau shall establish programs of research, statistics and planning, including evaluations of the performance of the various functions of the Bureau and the effectiveness of the treatment of offenders.
(e) The Bureau shall make an annual report to the Director of Corrections on its activities, including statistical and other data; accounts of research work; analysis and evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of personnel, institutions and services; and recommendations for legislation affecting the Bureau. Copies of the report shall be provided to each member of the Legislature.
(f) The Director of Corrections shall develop a suitable administrative structure providing for divisions and services to accomplish the purposes, goals and programs required by this chapter, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Females committed to the Bureau shall be housed in appropriate institutions or quarters separate from those for males.
(2) The Bureau shall provide for the administration of all institutions by professional corrections personnel.
(g) The Bureau shall provide secured storage areas on the outside grounds within the secured perimeter area of all institutions under its control for use by employees who are licensed to carry firearms.
(h) The Director of Corrections and the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services shall ensure that each prison and detention facility under their control provides a secure firearm storage at the facility, for use by all persons who are licensed to carry a firearm, and for use by all persons employed by the Bureau at The Youth Rehabilitation Center, or allows employees authorized to carry a firearm to store their firearm in a Bureau or Department-approved vehicle lockbox.
(i) Correctional officers employed in juvenile or adult medium or higher-security detention centers may carry non-lethal weapons, such as tasers, batons, pepper spray or other devices approved by the agency head upon certification.
(j) For the purposes of this section “non-lethal weapons” means weapons that are explicitly designed and primarily employed so as to incapacitate personnel and material, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injury, and undesired damage to property and the environment.