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Starting over after prison in Texas: first steps, one at a time.

Coming home is a lot to handle. This page walks you through the basics in plain words: getting your ID and papers back, getting your vote back, what "clearing a record" means, and where to find free help with jobs and housing around Houston and Harris County.

  • Last checked: October 11, 2026
  • Nonpartisan
  • General information, not legal advice

Please read: This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules, fees, and programs can change. Every key fact below links to the official source we used, so you can check it yourself. For your own case, talk with your parole officer, a free legal aid office, or dial 2-1-1 to find help near you.

The short answer

  • ID comes first. Before release, Texas prisons (TDCJ) help eligible people order a Social Security card, birth certificate, and state ID card. If you didn't get them, you can still get each one yourself.
  • Your vote comes back once your whole sentence is done, including parole or probation. Then you register again.
  • Some records can be cleared or sealed, but the rules are strict. Free tools can help you check.
  • Job help is free at Workforce Solutions offices, and there are reentry programs in Houston and Harris County.

Sources: TDCJ Reentry Program; Texas Secretary of State; TexasLawHelp; Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast

Getting a Texas ID

A state ID helps with almost everything: jobs, housing, banking, and benefits. A TDCJ prison ID card by itself is usually not enough. (TDCJ, "A New Start" reentry article)

Before release: TDCJ helps

  • The TDCJ Reentry Program helps eligible people get a replacement Social Security card, a certified birth certificate, and a state ID card at the time of release. (TDCJ Reentry Program)
  • Texas law says that before someone is released, TDCJ must check whether they have a valid driver license or state ID. If not, TDCJ must ask DPS to issue a state ID card. (Texas Government Code §501.0165)
  • People on parole get a packet from TDCJ that may include a Social Security card, Texas ID or driver license, birth certificate, and military discharge papers (DD-214). If papers arrive after release, TDCJ sends them on to the parole office. (TDCJ Parole Division Policy 03.01.09)

Getting a DPS ID card yourself

  1. Gather your papers

    You'll need proof of U.S. citizenship (or lawful presence), Texas residency, and identity, plus your Social Security number. DPS has a "REAL ID Document Check" tool on its site that makes a checklist for you.

    Source: Texas DPS, How to Apply for a Texas ID Card

  2. Make an appointment

    Fill out the ID card application (you can get it at the office too), then make an appointment at a driver license office.

    Source: Texas DPS

  3. At the office

    You'll sign, give thumbprints, have your picture taken, and pay the fee. You leave with a temporary ID. Your card comes by mail in about 2 to 3 weeks.

    Source: Texas DPS

The fee for a new ID card is $16 if you are 59 or younger, and $6 if you are 60 or older. A replacement card is $11. (Texas DPS, Driver License Fees)

Fee waivers: Texas law waives the ID card fee for some people, including homeless youth, youth in foster care, and people fleeing family or dating violence. (Transportation Code §§521.1015, 521.1016) We could not find an official Texas page offering a general ID fee waiver for adults leaving prison, so we don't list one.

Only need an ID to vote? DPS gives out an Election Identification Certificate (EIC) free to eligible voters who don't have another accepted photo ID. (Texas DPS, EIC)

Your birth certificate

If you were born in Texas, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Statistics office keeps your birth record. You can order a certified copy by mail, in person at their Austin office, at a local office such as a county clerk, or online. (DSHS, Birth Records; DSHS, Mail/In-Person Orders)

  • Cost: $22 for a certified copy (long form or short form). (DSHS, Costs and Fees)
  • Good news about ID: DSHS accepts an offender ID issued by TDCJ as a main (Group A) photo ID when you order. (DSHS, Acceptable Identification)
  • By mail, you sign the application in front of a notary and include a photocopy of your ID and a check or money order. In person, you bring your original ID. (DSHS)
  • Free copies are available for homeless youth, youth in foster care, and people fleeing family or dating violence (with paperwork). (DSHS)
  • For voting ID only: a birth certificate marked "For Election Identification Purposes Only" is free, one time, in person, and can only be used to get an EIC. (DSHS, Birth Certificate for Election ID)

Questions? Call DSHS Vital Statistics at 888-963-7111, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (DSHS)

Your Social Security card

  • A replacement Social Security card is free. (SSA, Replace Social Security Card)
  • You may not need a card if you know your number. The fastest way is to start online. Your local office can't print a card for you; it comes by mail in about 5 to 10 business days. (SSA)
  • Need help? Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (SSA)
  • Social Security has a "prerelease agreement" with TDCJ, so people can apply for a replacement card (and some benefits) before release. (SSA, Statewide Prerelease Agreements)

Getting your vote back

In Texas, people with a felony conviction can vote again once their whole sentence is done, including any parole, supervision, or probation. It comes back on its own, but you do need to register again. (Texas Secretary of State)

Our free guide explains it step by step: Voting after a felony conviction in Texas.

Clearing or sealing a record: the basics

Texas has two main tools. They are not the same.

  • Expunction ("clearing")

    Removes the entry from your criminal record. After an expunction, you don't have to mention it on job applications. But it is very limited. Convictions generally can't be expunged. It is mostly for arrests that didn't lead to a conviction (for example, charges dismissed or never filed, a not-guilty verdict, or a pardon).

    Sources: TexasLawHelp; Texas State Law Library

  • Order of nondisclosure ("sealing")

    Hides an offense from the public. You generally don't have to list a sealed offense on job or housing applications. But police, licensing agencies, and some government offices can still see it. It is often used after completing deferred adjudication.

    Sources: Texas Judicial Branch, Overview of Orders of Nondisclosure; Texas State Law Library

Good to know

  • There are waiting periods. For a nondisclosure on a felony, it's five years after you finish your sentence or deferred adjudication. (TexasLawHelp)
  • Some offenses, such as family violence or offenses that require sex offender registration, make a person never eligible for nondisclosure. (TexasLawHelp)
  • For immigration forms, you must still list an arrest even if it was expunged or sealed. (TexasLawHelp)

Check if you might qualify: TexasLawHelp has a free Fresh Start tool, plus forms and step-by-step guides for expunction and nondisclosure. The law can be complex, so the Texas State Law Library suggests talking to a lawyer first. Its Legal Help page lists free and low-cost options.

Finding work

  1. Visit a Workforce Solutions office (free)

    Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast is the Houston area's public career center. Basic career services are free for everyone: job search help, job leads through WorkInTexas.com, and referrals to other help. Free one-on-one career advising is also available, and some people qualify for free training. Call 1-888-469-JOBS (5627) or find a career office near you.

    Sources: Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast, Career Services; wrksolutions.com

  2. Ask about the Fidelity Bonding Program

    This program gives employers a free bond that covers the first six months of a new hire's job. It can make some employers more comfortable hiring someone with a record. You need a job offer first. Ask your local Workforce Solutions office, or email the state bonding coordinator at fidelity.bonding@twc.texas.gov.

    Source: Texas Workforce Commission, Fidelity Bonding Program brochure

  3. Get help with your resume

    Our free Next Door kit gives you a rewritten resume, a cover letter for the job you want, and a short list of local employers who are hiring. We can't promise a job, but we'd be glad to help you get ready. Request a Next Door kit.

After release, TDCJ's reentry program also offers case management and job-readiness help for some people. Ask your parole officer. (TDCJ Reentry Program, Phase III)

Housing and reentry help in Houston and Harris County

Questions people ask

I lost the papers TDCJ gave me. What now?

You can replace each one. A replacement DPS ID card is $11. A replacement Social Security card is free. A certified Texas birth certificate is $22. (DPS; SSA; DSHS)

Which should I get first?

DPS asks for proof of identity and your Social Security number to issue an ID card, so it often helps to have your birth certificate and Social Security information ready first. TDCJ uses that same order when it orders IDs for people before release. (DPS; TDCJ Parole and Reentry Report, FY 2025)

Can I vote while I'm on parole?

Not yet, if it's for a felony. Your right to vote comes back when your whole sentence, including parole, is done. See our voting guide. (Texas Secretary of State)

Can a conviction be expunged?

Generally, no. TexasLawHelp explains that convictions can't be expunged, though some may be sealed with a nondisclosure order. The State Law Library lists a few exceptions, such as a pardon. Talk with a lawyer about your case. (TexasLawHelp; Texas State Law Library)

Do I have to tell an employer about a sealed record?

The Texas courts' overview says an order of nondisclosure means you don't have to disclose that offense on job applications. Some employers, like licensing agencies and law enforcement, can still see it. For offenses that aren't sealed, ask a lawyer. (Texas Judicial Branch)

Where to get free help

Sources

We used official sources and the websites of the programs listed. All were checked on October 11, 2026.

  1. Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ): Reentry Program
  2. TDCJ: Rehabilitation and Reentry Division
  3. TDCJ Parole Division Policy 03.01.09: Personal Identification Card, Driver License and Other Identifying Documents
  4. TDCJ: Parole and Reentry Referral Report, Fiscal Year 2025
  5. TDCJ: "A New Start" reentry article
  6. Texas Government Code §501.0165 (State-issued identification before release)
  7. Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 521 (§§521.1015, 521.1016, 521.1811)
  8. Texas DPS: How to Apply for a Texas Identification Card
  9. Texas DPS: Driver License Fees
  10. Texas DPS: Election Identification Certificate
  11. Texas DSHS Vital Statistics: Birth Records
  12. Texas DSHS: Costs and Fees
  13. Texas DSHS: Requirements for Mail/In-Person Orders
  14. Texas DSHS: Acceptable Identification
  15. Texas DSHS: Birth Certificate for Election Identification
  16. Social Security Administration: Replace Social Security Card
  17. Social Security Administration: Statewide Prerelease Agreements
  18. Texas Secretary of State: Effect of Felony Conviction on Voter Registration
  19. TexasLawHelp: Clear or Seal Your Record? Expunctions vs. Nondisclosures in Texas
  20. Texas State Law Library: How can I get something removed from my criminal record?
  21. Texas Judicial Branch: An Overview of Orders of Nondisclosure
  22. Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast: Career Services
  23. Texas Workforce Commission: Fidelity Bonding Program brochure
  24. Houston Health Department: Community Re-Entry Network Program
  25. Harris County Public Health: ACCESS Harris County Re-entry Cohort
  26. 2-1-1 Texas (Texas Health and Human Services Commission)

Not legal advice. This guide is general information to help you get started. It is not legal advice, and it doesn't create a lawyer-client relationship. What Would Jesus Prompt? is not a government office and is not part of any program listed here. Always confirm with the official sources above. Last checked: October 11, 2026.

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