Michigan Department of Corrections Hosts Largest Road to Restoration Clinic in a Prison to Date

St. Louis, MI – The Michigan Department of Corrections hosted their seventh Road to Restoration clinic this week in collaboration with the Michigan Department of State. The event, which took place at Central Michigan Correctional Facility in St. Louis on June 10-11, was the largest to take place in a prison to date, with 426 attendees.

Road to Restoration clinics assist Michigan residents in taking the next steps to get their driving privileges restored. The ability to drive is often necessary for getting to work, school, appointments, and family obligations; some of which may be required while on parole. It is a valuable opportunity for those preparing to be released, as having a driver’s license and other vital documents is a predictor of a successful reentry into the community.

“Our department has sought to find innovative solutions to the barriers returning residents face most often,” said MDOC Director Heidi E. Washington. “By partnering with the Department of State to host Road to Restoration clinics inside our facilities, we can help remove the barrier of obtaining a valid drivers license and put those under our supervision on the road to success.”

At the event, participants had the opportunity to view their driving record, speak with MDOS staff, complete testing, pay fines and fees, and if needed, speak with pro-bono attorneys to receive free legal guidance. MDOC reentry staff were also on hand to connect with attendees about employment, peer mentoring programs, and obtaining other vital documents. Many of these obstacles attendees face cannot be addressed without the assistance, collaboration, and guidance from organizations outside of MDOC, making reentry partnerships particularly valuable.

Road to Restoration is an expansion of the already successful Returning Citizen Identification Program (RCIP) which has provided identification documents to nearly 25,000 incarcerated individuals. The expansion seeks to offer more significant pathways to driver’s licenses while still ensuring returning citizens can receive vital documents such as state IDs that are often necessary for housing and employment.