                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

(EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026) GOVERNMENT-ISSUED IDENTIFICATION; DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS-ISSUED IDENTIFICATION (§ 53.1-31.4)

A. Prior to the release or discharge into the community of any prisoner who has
been confined for at least 90 days and does not possess a government-issued
identification card, birth certificate, or social security card, the Department
shall, in conjunction with the Department of Motor Vehicles, the State Registrar
of Vital Records, and any other relevant government agency, provide such
prisoner with a certified copy of his birth certificate, his social security
card, or a government-issued identification card unless such provision of a
government-issued identification card is not possible, in which case, the
Department shall provide the prisoner with a Department of Corrections Offender
Identification form. The form shall include (i) a photograph of the prisoner;
(ii) the prisoner&#8217;s full name; (iii) the prisoner&#8217;s date of birth;
(iv) the address of the facility in which the prisoner resided at the time of
his release or discharge; (v) the prisoner&#8217;s release address; and (vi) if
available, the prisoner&#8217;s citizenship or legal presence in the United
States and social security number. Such form shall be verified by the Department
and provided to the Department of Motor Vehicles in a secured format and by a
means mutually agreed upon by the Department and the Department of Motor
Vehicles and shall, subject to procedures established pursuant to subsection B,
serve as proof of identity and proof of Virginia residency and may serve as
proof of legal presence in the United States or proof of a social security
number, if one is available, as required to obtain a government-issued
identification card for the 120 days immediately following the release or
discharge of the prisoner identified on such form. If the Department receives a
government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or social security
card for a prisoner after his release or discharge, the Department shall forward
such identification or document to the former prisoner. Unless the prisoner is
determined to be indigent pursuant to &#xA7; 19.2-159, all costs and fees
associated with applying for and obtaining any identification or documents
pursuant to this section shall be paid by the prisoner.
			For the purposes of this section, &#8220;government-issued identification
card&#8221; does not include a REAL ID credential.

B. The Department and the Department of Motor Vehicles shall cooperatively
establish procedures for verifying a Department of Corrections Offender
Identification form and all information contained therein. The Department of
Motor Vehicles shall not accept a Department of Corrections Offender
Identification form if the form or any of the information contained on the form
cannot be verified.

HISTORY: 2020, cc. 484, 523; 2025, c. 656.