I oppose all these unconstitutional, dangerous, and pointless laws.

As the director of an organization dedicated to providing recovery housing for individuals transitioning from jail and prison, we wholeheartedly endorse this bill. We encounter individuals daily at our 11 recovery houses, many of whom arrive without any form of identification. Obtaining a facesheet from the jail or prison, often requiring in-person retrieval, is simply not practical most often, especially for those coming from distant locations like southwest Virginia. While we acknowledge the current requirement for such documents, it's crucial to highlight that this is not consistently implemented. Furnishing individuals with a basic identification document would significantly enhance their ability to secure employment, apply for housing, and achieve overall success.

Thank you for allowing me to share with the committee today. My name is Kristina Kazanjian and I am the Education Coordinator with REAL LIFE a non profit here in Richmond. I am in favor of Delegate Cousin’s bill, HB 1405. At REAL LIFE we serve individuals coming out of incarceration from jails and prisons, both local and from across the state. Around 40% of those we serve have been released without documentation. Just yesterday we assisted four people in this situation, all of which arrived within the past week. Without documentation all other progress and forward movement must be put on hold until a photo ID and birth certificate or social security card can be secured. This will delay gaining employment, for our clients on average the delay can be around 21 days. Three whole weeks, without work, without a paycheck, without a routine schedule, waiting and sometimes struggling to get their IDs. For those navigating this process without any professional assistance, I imagine it would take even longer. When folks don’t have identification they aren’t able to enroll in job training or further their education to advance their careers. Without documentation they cannot obtain a cell phone, which is needed to gain employment in our technological world. They cannot get health insurance, housing or many other services that are required during this vulnerable period of post release. Not only are they delayed in finding a place within society, it is a stress inducing situation where folks aren’t able to get what they need in order to succeed. The stress, delays, and potential derailment of progress can be alleviated if folks are released with proper identification; allowing them to start their new lives with forward movement when they are released. This is why I urge you to support HB 1405. Thank you for your time and consideration. Kristina Kazanjian, Education Navigator REAL LIFE kristina@reallifeprogram.org

Good Morning, Thank you members of the committee for allowing me to submit my written support for Delegate Cousins bill, HB1405. My name is Sydney Smith and I am the Senior Employment Coordinator with REAL LIFE, a local nonprofit right here in Richmond that serves individuals coming out of incarceration. It is my responsibility to help the individuals we serve gain and most importantly maintain employment. Each year, more than 600,000 individuals are released from prisons and jails nationwide. In 2019, the state of Virginia alone saw 296,819 individuals released from local jails and prisons. In my 5 years of working within this field over 40% of the individuals I have assisted have had issues obtaining documentation post release. To shine even more light on this, an individual that comes to our program with proper documentation can be gainfully employed on an average of 9 days. On the other hand, an individual coming to our program without proper documentation can be employed on an average of 30 days. By having prisons and jails assisting individuals in obtaining their documentation multiple parties will benefit, including the individual, the employer and the overall community. Individually, securing employment leads to many benefits for those who were formerly incarcerated including an increase in self-esteem, a positive sense of identity, and ultimately a more stable lifestyle out of crime. Employing formerly incarcerated individuals also has benefits for employers. It provides employers evidence of nondiscriminatory hiring practices, potentially qualifying employers for tax credits and free bonding services, expands small applicant pools, and reduces training costs especially when hiring candidates who have completed specialized job training while they were incarcerated. And lastly, communities also benefit when formerly incarcerated individuals find employment. Poverty rates decrease, taxes are collected on earned income, and families are strengthened as the collateral effects of incarceration are minimized. Individuals face numerous obstacles after exiting the justice system and finding a job is vital to their success, so by jails and prisons assisting individuals in gaining documentation these benefits I have mentioned can be collectively observed at a much faster rate. With that being said I would urge you all to support HB1405. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sydney Smith Senior Employment Coordinator REAL LIFE sydney@reallifeprogram.org