CHICAGO – It’s a new start for those leaving Illinois prisons.
On Tuesday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed SB 2803, which gives the Illinois Secretary of State’s office the ability to waive requirements for a physical birth certificate for people who used to have an Illinois driver’s license or ID.
“The new law allows people to bypass the long wait times and the red tape associated with the long wait times that act as a major obstacle in the process,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.
In addition, no physical social security card will be required either, as long as the state can verify the number another way with the Social Security Administration.
“A state ID is essential to performing the every day tasks that increase the likelihood of successful reentry into society. That’s because access to everything, from a home to a job to a doctor, becomes almost impossible without one,” Giannoulias said.
Data shows that in the last year, about 15,000 people left the state prison system. Those who’ve served their home and have never had an Illinois license or ID will be able to get an ID for free under a simplified process within 30 days of release.
“Those returning home have changed and deserve a chance to be productive members of society,” said Marlon Chamberlain of the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments.
Under Illinois’ current system, people awaiting release without the necessary documents are issued a temporary one valid for 90 days, often not long enough to round up the necessary documents for a permanent one.
First Lady M.K. Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton both advocated for the change.
“Having legal identification says, ‘I am here, I am somebody,’” the first lady said.
“Today we can proudly say that in Illinois, we see the person behind the mistake, and commit to helping that person re-emerge and to me, that is true justice,” Stratton added.
Former Secretary of State Jesse White started a similar pilot program a few years ago. This new law signed makes that change permanent.