Secretary Benson brings state ID services to Wayne County’s returning citizens

Nearly 20,000 returning citizens have received state ID or driver's license through partnership with Michigan Department of Corrections, county jails

DETROIT, Mich. - Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington announced Monday that the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) is expanding its re-entry services to provide a state ID or driver's license to newly paroled Wayne County residents upon their release.

"One of our most overlooked and underserved communities includes Michigan's returning citizens and eligible voters who are currently in jail," Secretary Benson said. "People deserve to be able to move forward after serving their time. And having an ID is a critical first step. You need an ID to apply for a job. You need an ID for housing. You need an ID to enroll in education and training programs. And securing a state ID or driver's license through the program helps returning citizens get registered to vote once they are eligible."

"The people that are leaving us, they need identification. They are going to go out and try to get jobs. And we all know that in order to get a job, they need to have identification," Washington said. "We at the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, we're adamant about putting people in the position that when they leave, that they leave better than when they came. I will say that over and over again. It's necessary to give those who are leaving a chance in the community to thrive and be gainfully employed. That is important to us. When we do that, they don't end up back here."

In 2020, MDOS launched a partnership with the Michigan Department of Corrections to ensure newly paroled Michiganders receive a driver's license or state ID at the time of their release. The Secretary of State Mobile Office visits MDOC facilities and helps residents secure, complete, and submit all required documents for state IDs or driver's license renewals. Approximately 20,000 returning citizens have gotten their state ID or driver's license - over 98% of all people leaving prison. Since September 2020, MDOS has increased transactions for returning citizens statewide from 400 to more than 6,000 per year.

MDOS has expanded the program in partnership with county sheriffs across the state. Wayne County joins Kent County, Ingham County, Genesee County and Washtenaw County in offering this essential service to their returning citizens.

The Secretary of State Mobile Office visited the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center in Detroit Monday to provide one-on-one assistance to residents in accessing their required documents, capturing updated ID or driver's license photos, and conducting any necessary vision exams for a renewed license. Upon the resident's release, they will receive their ID or driver's license without delay, ensuring immediate access to proper identification.

Under state law, returning citizens and people with a felony or misdemeanor conviction can register to vote in Michigan as long as they are not actively serving a sentence in jail or prison. Michiganders detained by pretrial or pre-sentencing can also register to vote. The Michigan Department of State is working with Nation Outside, Black Voters Matter, Voting Access for All Coalition, Here to Help, and other organizations to dismantle misinformation and stigma around returning citizens' eligibility to vote.

To mark September as National Voter Registration Month, Secretary Benson encouraged all eligible citizens to register to vote. Learn more at Michigan.gov/Vote.

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