Illinois simplifies process for inmates to receive state IDs upon prison release

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — On Tuesday, Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation that makes it easier for Illinois inmates to get state IDs again after being released from prison.

The amendment to the Illinois ID Card Act allows incarcerated individuals, who did not have an Illinois identification card, to submit the required information to get one to the Secretary of State prior to their release.

“Lack of identification is an all-too-common barrier for individuals exiting the criminal justice system to reenter the world,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “These are individuals who have served their time and paid their debt to society. Rather than closing them off to the rest of the world, this legislation is about empowering them to make their own choices about their future.”

Pritzer’s wife, First Lady MK Pritzker, has been an advocate for the rights of Illinois prisoners.

“My focus since my first visit to an Illinois detention center in 2019 has been ensuring incarcerated individuals are treated with respect and dignity,” she said.

That change will quicken the process for them to open bank accounts, apply for housing, and find employment once released.

“Black, Hispanic, and low-income individuals are less likely to have a government-issued photo ID, placing a disproportionate burden to accessing state resources on these communities,” the Governor’s Office said in a statement.

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