With the approval of the county sheriff, the county court of any county is hereby authorized to employ any person imprisoned upon conviction for a misdemeanor in a county jail to work within the county as the county court may decide. In such instance the wages to be paid to the prisoner shall be no less than $1 per hour. Such prisoners shall remain in the custody of and be supervised by said sheriff. No imprisoned person shall be required to work without his consent.
West Virginia Legal Code