Detroit, MI – Michigan is expanding a program designed to help people leaving jail or prison get back on their feet by making sure they have a valid state ID in hand when they walk out the door.
The initiative, launched in 2020 for state prisons, has already issued more than 20,000 IDs and driver’s licenses to “returning citizens.” Now, the program is expanding to Wayne County Jail, the state’s largest, where officials say about 60 percent of people arrive without valid identification.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced the expansion in mid-September, saying a state ID is the first step toward stability. “We know that without an ID it is nearly impossible to secure housing, apply for jobs, or access health care. This program is about removing barriers so people can move forward and succeed,” Benson said.
The Wayne County rollout builds on earlier partnerships with jails in Kent, Ingham, Genesee, and Washtenaw counties. Working with local clerks, law enforcement, and the Department of Corrections, the state coordinates paperwork and verifies documents while someone is still in custody so their ID is ready upon release.
Advocates point out the program also protects voting rights. In Michigan, people with criminal convictions can vote once they are no longer incarcerated. Having a valid ID makes it easier to re-register and participate.
Michigan officials stress this is part of a larger reentry effort that has helped drive the state’s recidivism rate down to around 21 percent, the lowest in history. While an ID alone does not guarantee success, it removes one of the most basic barriers facing people coming out of custody.
“This is about fairness, dignity, and public safety,” Benson said. “The more support we give people reentering society, the less likely they are to return to the system.”
