Mobile BMV assists offender re-entry effort at Putnamville

Friday, July 13, 2012
Bureau of Motor Vehicles personnel assist Putnamville Correctional Facility offenders who are approaching their release date with obtaining valid identification in a new cooperative state agency program.

PUTNAMVILLE -- The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles mobile unit recently visited the Putnamville Correctional Facility (PCF) to process identification for offenders approaching their release date.

Since 2009, the Indiana Department of Correction has partnered with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle to provide offenders who are approaching their release date with valid identification. To do so, the BMV mobile unit began an on site program by bringing the BMV to prisons.

In, 2011, the mobile unit provided 2,999 offenders with identification. The "BMV 2 You" truck travels Indiana roads each week to different correctional facilities assisting eligible offenders. More than 2,000 pieces of identification have already been processed exceeding mid-year totals for last year.

Recently, the mobile BMV visited the Putnamville Correctional Facility. Arranged by Re-Entry Coordinator Kelli Searing, 319 offenders were processed over a three-day period.

BMV staff commended the PCF staff, stating: 'Everything is always well organized and runs smoothly, when we visit Putnamville. Their staff does a great job."

The mobile unit is scheduled to return to the facility again this month.

In June of this year the program expanded. Due to the BMV reporting that it was inundated with letters of request from offenders wanting copies of their driving records, BMV personnel trained IDOC staff to read and print driving records for offenders, on site at facilities.

To date, prison staff has printed 200 driving records, saving the BMV valuable time and resources.

"Valid identification is required for anyone to obtain employment and housing, both of which are key for ex-offenders to successfully re-enter our communities, and, to negate recidivism, PCF Superintendent Stanley Knight said. "This serves as yet another example of state agencies working together to benefit the residents of our state."

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  • I have to wait for my plates to come in the mail, sometimes late, and they get a personal visit using a mobile unit that I'm sure was purchased with tax dollars. I'm going to call them and see if they will meet me at my house next year and bring my plates with them. Or better yet, come on by and let's do my license renewal.

    -- Posted by putcocvb on Fri, Jul 13, 2012, at 8:31 AM
  • Don't complain, stealthmode. They're only supplying offenders with low-end Kia's as they leave. haha

    -- Posted by My Dime on Sun, Jul 15, 2012, at 12:56 AM
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