Legislation to Provide Ohio Inmates with State ID Cards Signed into Law

COLUMBUS—Chairman of the House State and Local Government Committee, State Representative Scott Wiggam (R-Wayne County), announces legislation to help incarcerated Ohioans who are U.S. citizens establish their legal identity through access to a state identification card has been signed into law Thursday.

This new program will provide soon-to-be-released inmates with an application to file with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles through the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. 

“Incarceration is about rehabilitating inmates to be reintegrated into society,” said Wiggam. “ID cards are a necessary part to getting employment, applying for housing or driving a car. This legislation provides a path to give inmates an ID card upon their release, while cutting out some unnecessary steps.”

Inmates currently are issued ID cards by the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections to be used to obtain an ID card through the BMV. This legislation will eliminate this process.

Senate Bill 198 will go into effect in 90 days.