U.S. Representative Barry Moore, R-Alabama, has introduced a bill to provide the thousands of Americans released from federal custody each year with valid government identification.
Moore’s “BOP Release Card ID Act of 2025,” co-sponsored by U.S. Representative Herb Conaway, D-New Jersey, would provide a photo ID “release card” to each prisoner released from a Bureau of Prisons facility, excluding noncitizens. These IDs would be valid for no less than 18 months following an individual’s release, with the individual able to exchange the release card for a traditional photo ID in the state they live in.
The legislation aligns with a 2022 Government Accountability Office report, which recommends providing federal-issued ID cards to BOP inmates to reduce the number of individuals who leave federal prison without a form of ID. In announcing the legislation, Moore stressed the importance of providing incarcerated individuals with IDs as a way to reduce recidivism and to create a clearer pathway toward becoming a productive citizen.
“Each year, 40,000 individuals are released from federal prison, yet far too many leave without even the most basic tool to restart their lives — a photo ID,” Moore stated in an official press release. “Without identification, these individuals can’t access housing, employment, healthcare, or even basic government services. It’s a recipe for recidivism. My legislation is about giving people a fair shot at rebuilding their lives. If we expect former inmates to stay out of prison, we need to remove unnecessary roadblocks to their success, starting with something as simple and essential as an ID.”
“Every American deserves a chance to rebuild their life after serving their time, including access to basic identification,” Conaway said. “Without a valid ID, it’s nearly impossible to secure housing, employment, health care, or even a ride home. This legislation is a common-sense step to ensure that Americans leaving federal prison aren’t set up to fail, by giving them the tools they need to reintegrate with dignity, access essential services, and contribute to their communities from day one.”
In addition to providing release cards to federal inmates, Moore’s bill would require the U.S. Attorney General to provide guidance to states on how they can issue similar IDs to inmates released from state prisons. Several states already ensure that inmates receive identification upon their release, including Alabama, which has provided inmates with social security cards and birth certificates since 2021.
After its introduction, the BOP Release Card ID Act of 2025 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration.
