MDOC Reaches Milestone of 30,000 Government-Issued Photo IDs Granted to Incarcerated Individuals

Lansing, MI - The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) has provided vital documents to 30,000 incarcerated individuals through its Returning Citizen Identification Program (RCIP). Photo identification is a key predictor for the success of those reentering Michigan communities after completing a prison sentence.

"MDOC is committed to removing barriers that those in our supervision face when paroled or discharged. Doing so increases their chance of becoming productive citizens and not returning to prison," said Director Heidi E. Washington. "We all understand how often we need a government-issued ID in daily life. Reaching this milestone means 30,000 returning residents will have the opportunity to focus on crucial steps like finding a job and a place to live rather than spending time obtaining documents they would need to do so."

MDOC Offender Success Administration employment counselors play a valuable role in providing resources, compiling required information, and facilitating document application processes for incarcerated individuals. In addition, counselors provide important credential records of programing completion, educational accomplishments such as a GED or post-secondary degrees, and results from skills assessments and other evaluations upon an individual's release.

"Ensuring people have vital documents when they leave our facilities is one approach our unit takes to reduce our state's recidivism rate," said Offender Success Administrator Kyle Kaminski. "By providing those resources alongside the robust infrastructure the department has built for secondary and post-secondary educational attainment, vocational training, and evidence-based behavioral programming, we help keep Michigan safe by promoting the success of those reentering."

Evidence-based programs like the RCIP have contributed to lowering Michigan's recidivism, or return to prison rate, to 21%, the lowest rate measured in state history. The state's prison population through the end of calendar year 2024 was 32,778 incarcerated individuals statewide, down from a peak of 51,554 individuals in 2007.

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Employment Counselor Christopher Dean shows county-specific resources in his office at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility

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Employment Counselor Christopher Dean shows resources provided to incarcerated men preparing to parole, in his office at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility.

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Discussion of documents and resources provided in an employment counselor's office.

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