Most people find themselves without state identification after incarceration because their previous documentation expired or was lost or damaged while they were incarcerated. Moreover, people returning from incarceration rarely have access to birth certificates and Social Security cards, which are frequently required for obtaining state identification, and the process for procuring such documents can be daunting and costly. To ensure that people are able to obtain state-issued identification after incarceration, states generally implement state, interagency, or local policies or enact legislation. Find out more in this factsheet.