New guidance to assist people with obtaining healthcare, housing, and identification documents after they’ve been incarcerated is now available from the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Every year, thousands of people return to Ohio communities following time in prison or jail. As they seek to reestablish themselves in their communities, they can encounter multiple barriers to employment, housing, healthcare, and other essential needs. A report from the Supreme Court Task Force on Reentry emphasized that access to services that help overcome these barriers is crucial to successfully making the transition back into a community. Research has found that assistance with these issuescontributes significantly to whether someone can move forward in a positive, productive direction. The task force report noted that these types of services also benefit society by deterring relapses into crime and enhancing public safety.

The new online publications regarding healthcare, housing, and identification documents are designed to enhance the possibility of successful reentry.

Reentry and Healthcare
Access to healthcare is essential for individuals as they transition out of incarceration, and behavioral health services may be a specific need. The materials explain various health insurance programs, such as Medicaid. State and federal behavioral health locators for finding treatment and counseling are listed. Also included are ways to find community health centers, prescription assistance programs, and healthcare services for veterans.

Reentry and Housing
The compiled resources are aimed at helping individuals locate safe and affordable housing. Stable housing is one of the strongest predictors of success in reentry because it reduces the risk of committing future crimes and supports long-term recovery. Among the resources mentioned are the Ohio Housing Locator, state and local housing organizations, and reentry coalitions that assist with housing. Also included are legal tools to deal with housing discrimination.

Reentry and Identification Documents
A key step in the reentry process is obtaining or replacing important identification documents. This section provides directions on how to obtain an Ohio identification card or driver’s license, birth certificate, and Social Security card. It also offers information on restoring voting rights.

The development of the three online publications was part of an annual project taken on by a fellows class of the Ohio State Bar Foundation and was refined by the Reentry Subcommittee of the Supreme Court Commission on Specialized Dockets.

These new resources join the Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE) webpage, which gives guidance on a certificate that a court can issue to provide relief from certain bars to employment or licensing in Ohio.