Last week, Governor Bob McDonnell's office released a statement on the success of DMV Connect, a program designed to help soon-to-be released inmates obtain a photo ID by having DMV representatives visit the facility where the inmate is incarcerated. You can learn more about this program by clicking here.

Virginia Organizing Chairperson Sandra A. Cook wrote the following letter to Governor McDonnell after reading about this program and the recent milestone of producing 500 state ID's to inmates as part of a re-entry program:

Dear Governor McDonnell,

On behalf of Virginia Organizing, I want to commend you on the successful implementation of the DMV Connect program that has helped hundreds of inmates in the re-entry transition.

As you already know, access to identification can be challenging for many people, especially the formerly incarcerated. That Virginia would allocate time and resources to help reintegrate former offenders into society to help them be more productive and decrease recidivism is something to be proud of.

Your efforts to restore civil rights to former felons and aid formerly incarcerated individuals have not gone unnoticed. We truly appreciate the work you are doing in this area and believe it shows your compassion for those who have paid a debt to society and are now working to have a life beyond their offense.

Thank you for your leadership in this area.

Sincerely,