By Megan Burks
It’s something many may take for granted, but nearly three-quarters of people surveyed in San Diego County jails say they won’t have a valid form of identification when they get out.
Now the county is partnering with the California Department of Motor Vehicles to change that.
The county is rolling out a program that will let people who are nearing release from jail apply for state-issued ID cards while in custody. The effort is meant to help ex-offenders get on their feet, and stay there.
“Just think about what you’re daily operation would be if you did not have an ID,” said Christine Brown,re-entry services manager for the Sheriff. “If you were going to try to find an apartment, if you were trying to find a job, if you were going to access any type of services, everybody asks for an ID.”
Supervisor Greg Cox, Sheriff Bill Gore and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis first called for the effort last year, saying it could help reduce recidivism by smoothing the transition from jail to society.
“Many times people are very motivated to reintegrate into the community in a positive way, but even just something as simple as not having and ID can psychologically impact what is going to happen when you get released,” Brown said.
Offenders who want IDs would pay for them out of their own pockets. And they must already have a recent photo on file with the DMV.