Cook County inmates get ID cards for life outside jail

A unique program at the Cook County Correctional Center aims to prepare inmates for life outside the jail. On Monday morning, many women inside the jail were smiling for the camera — and then within minutes they got a CityKey. It is a government issued ID to use in Chicago. Without an ID in this city or this country, you don’t exist. You can’t get an apartment, you can’t go to the food pantry, you can’t get social service help," said Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer. That’s why Commissioner Gainer wanted to bring this municipal ID printing event to Cook County Jail, where a lot of inmates don’t have identification.