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Cliff. Raenay. Tay. Mr. Graham. These are all people who came to us with a huge problem: they wanted to work but they needed to drive to get jobs. This is, after all, a country that is not known for its superior public transportation.
We talk all of the time about IDs and how important they are for jobs, housing, and so much more. But we don't often talk about the difference between a "walkers", or state, ID that is valid for everything except driving, and an actual driver's license. We get state IDs all of the time, but driver's licenses present an extra burden beyond that of needing a car and a test: In many states, you cannot get a driver's license without paying the fines or fees that you are almost inevitably going to have after being released from jail or prison.
This is another way that we trap people who have been incarcerated. We tell them to get a job right away, but we don't give them even the walker's ID that they need to do that, and we make it expensive and complicated to get a driver's license. That's why we started the Fine Free Fund. We were helping so many returning citizens get IDs only to have them ask if we could help pay $500, $2000, sometimes even over $5000 in fines or fees.
We didn't have the budget for this but we also just could not turn away from this huge need. And the money is just the beginning. We have spent countless hours chasing county clerks trying to figure out if a client has a fine, how much it is, and how to pay it. We have thought that we'd paid everything only to get to the DMV and have them pull up a surprise fine three counties away that our client never knew about. And we have seen the joy and relief when all of the barriers have been overcome and our client has a new license in their hands.
This holiday season, consider making a donation to our Fine Free Fund, so we can help returning citizens get back on their feet in time for the New Year.
Thank you,
Kat
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