Posted by Media Release

Will Work with Bureau of Motor Vehicles To Ease Reinstatement Process

Part of the Hamilton County Comprehensive Safety Plan (formerly Issue 27) included finding ways to reform the criminal justice system.  Despite the defeat of Issue 27, many of the planned reforms will move forward, as Commissioners made clear when they announced their “Roadmap” forward last week. 

One reform element announced this week is that Hamilton County will pursue a pilot program with the State of Ohio to reduce the number of citizens who needlessly spend time in jail due to driver’s license violations.  A final report due next month will likely show that many County citizens serve time for driving with suspended or no driver’s licenses.  While many citizens are appropriately prohibited from having their licenses reinstated, others who are eligible for reinstatement are simply failing to do so.  Some of these citizens get arrested again and again on these traffic infractions, taking up police resources, valuable jailspace and costing the taxpayer thousands of dollars to pay for their jail stays.

To help avert this cycle and waste, Hamilton County will work with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles on a pilot program easing the logistics for eligible citizens leaving the Justice Center to have their license reinstated.  Using technology, those leaving the Justice Center and who are legally eligible for reinstatement would be able to have their licenses reinstated quickly-and their reinstatement payments made electronically.

County leaders will meet with the B.M.V. in the next few months to finalize details on the pilot program, which they hope to launch early next year.

“This is worth pursuing,” said County Commissioner David Pepper.  “A simple logistical change and technological improvement here could free up valuable jailspace for more serious crimes while saving considerable taxpayer dollars.”

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