Remove a Barrier to Successful Re-Entry

GIVEN THAT:
Successful re-entry into our communities for people who were formerly incarcerated makes our communities safer, reduces the costs to the State of Michigan and its taxpayers, and allows people to return home and become contributing members of our communities.

Immediate access to a Michigan State ID or State Drivers license is essential to successful re-entry because it is required in order to 1) obtain employment, 2) find housing, and 3) even receive food at some food banks.

One Michigan State Agency should give full faith and credit to the official documents and forms of identification issued by another Michigan State Agency.

The Michigan Secretary of State has presently chosen to refuse to accept Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) ID in order to obtain Michigan State ID or a Michigan Drivers license even though the individuals in question have been investigated, arrested, convicted, and incarcerated for a protracted period of time by a variety of State of Michigan law enforcement agencies, which should be sufficient to establish identity.


THEREFORE, THE FOLLOWING UNDERSIGNED ASK THAT:
The Secretary of State, either by agreement with the MDOC or by mandate of State law, accept MDOC identification as sufficient evidence to obtain a Michigan State ID, which should be provided either as part of the prison exit process upon statement of intended residence or upon release with a statement of current residence. This would be the most efficient, effective, and fiscally responsible way to encourage successful re-entry. The undersigned also encourage the sponsors of pending House Bills 4525, 4528, and 4527 to adopt this solution to a major barrier of successful re-entry.