CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The Illinois Secretary of State will now be working with the Cook County Sheriff to make sure that outgoing Cook County inmates leave with a government issued ID.
A program that has already provided more than 2,000 Illinois IDs to State prison system inmates and new releases will now expand to Cook County Jail.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has partnered with Secretary of State Alexei Giannoulias to pilot a similar program for individuals leaving the Cook County Jail where thousands return to society every year without proper ID.
“A valid state identification card is just a small but vital first step in providing an opportunity for second chances,” Giannoulias said.
At a press conference on Monroe Street, Giannoulias added that recidivism is less likely if housing, a job, a bank account, transportation and other assistance can be obtained by someone leaving jail. The number one barrier up till now for many has been lack of ID, and he saID that already other counties are showing interest in joining Cook County for this first in the nation program.
“We’re hopeful this program will one day be replicated, not only across Illinois but in all 50 states,” Giannoulias said.
Local reentry focused organizations approve of this partnership. Jennifer Vollen-Katz is the executive director of the John Howard Association (JHA), an independent non-profit prison watchdog that monitors Illinois prison facilities, policies and practices.
“JHA is keenly aware of the challenges and injustices entrenched in our prison and jail systems as well as the difficulties people face when they walk out of institutional doors to reenter society,” Vollen-Katz said.
She said that most people leave jail or prison worse off than when they arrive. Vollen-Katz was a staunch advocate for legislation that now enables the Secretary of State’s Office to issue free state ID cards to individuals upon their release from Illinois prisons. More than 2,000 have been issued since 2021.
“Making it possible for every man and woman in or leaving custody to get an ID card is smart policy and a wise investment,” Vollen-Katz added.
She said that extending a similar program to now include outgoing inmates at the Cook County Jail is an important and much welcomed advancement.
“Commend them for creating a program that will get more state IDs into the hands of people who need this important assistance in order to move forward productively,” said Vollen-Katz.
Listen to our new podcast Looped In: Chicago
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram