Bop Release Card ID Act Introduced by US President
US president Barry Moore from Alabama has put forward a new piece of legislation aimed at assisting those who are released from federal custody. The bill, known as the “Bop Release Card ID Act,” has been co-sponsored by US representative Herb Conaway from New Jersey.
This proposed law aims to provide a “release card”—which includes a photo ID—to every prisoner exiting the Bureau of Prisons, excluding non-citizens. These IDs will remain valid for 18 months post-release, allowing individuals to swap their release cards for standard state-issued photo IDs.
The initiative aligns with a report from the government’s accountability department in 2022, which suggested that federally issued identification cards be made available to BOP inmates in order to decrease the number of individuals leaving federal prisons without any form of ID. In his announcement, Moore stressed that equipping incarcerated individuals with IDs can help lower rates of recidivism and facilitate their reintegration into society.
“Each year, about 40,000 people are released from federal prisons, often without the basic resources they need to start anew,” Moore stated. “Without proper identification, access to essential services such as housing, employment, and healthcare becomes a significant issue, leading many back into crime. This law aims to eliminate those barriers and address what should be a straightforward requirement.”
Conaway added, “Every individual deserves the opportunity to rebuild their lives after incarceration, and that starts with having access to proper identification. Lack of a valid ID makes it really difficult to secure housing, jobs, or healthcare. This legislation is a sensible approach to ensure that individuals leaving federal prisons can re-enter society with dignity and access the services they need.”
Besides issuing release cards to federal inmates, Moore’s legislation also mandates the U.S. Attorney General to guide how to distribute similar IDs to those released from state prisons. Some states, including Alabama, have already implemented measures to provide released inmates with necessary documents such as social security cards and birth certificates since 2021.
After its introduction, the BOP Release Card ID Act has been forwarded to the House Judiciary Committee for further review.
