(a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Motor Vehicles shall ensure that all eligible inmates released from state prisons have valid identification cards, issued pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 13000) of Chapter 1 of Division 6 of the Vehicle Code.
(b) For purposes of this section, “eligible inmate” means an inmate who meets all of the following requirements:
(1) The inmate has previously held a California driver’s license or identification card.
(2) The inmate has a usable photo on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles that is not more than 10 years old.
(3) The inmate has no outstanding fees due for a prior California identification card.
(4) The inmate has provided, and the Department of Motor Vehicles has verified, all of the following information:
(A) The inmate’s true full name.
(B) The inmate’s date of birth.
(C) The inmate’s social security number.
(D) The inmate’s legal presence in the United States.
(c) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall assist a person who is exonerated as to a conviction for which he or she is serving a state prison sentence at the time of exoneration with transitional services, including housing assistance, job training, and mental health services, as applicable. The extent of the services shall be determined by the department and shall be provided for a period of not less than six months and not more than one year from the date of release.
(d) For the purposes of this section, “exonerated” means the person has been convicted and subsequently one of the following occurred:
(1) A writ of habeas corpus concerning the person was granted on the basis that the evidence unerringly points to innocence, or the person’s conviction was reversed on appeal on the basis of insufficient evidence.
(2) A writ of habeas corpus concerning the person was granted pursuant to Section 1473, either resulting in dismissal of the criminal charges for which he or she was incarcerated or following a determination that the person is entitled to release on his or her own recognizance, or to bail, pending retrial or pending appeal.
(3) The person was given an absolute pardon by the Governor on the basis that the person was innocent.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 728, Sec. 1. (SB 336) Effective January 1, 2018.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018