Morris County Sheriff's Office Reaches Milestone of 500 County ID Cards Issued To At-Risk Residents

Published on June 24, 2020

The Morris County Sheriff's Office has achieved the milestone of issuing 500 photo Identification Cards to Morris County residents, enabling many to access vital medical and social services and even obtain a library card.

Sheriff's Office Senior System Analyst Russell Moser reached the benchmark on June 23, virtually three years to the day that Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon launched the Morris County ID Card program on June 22, 2017, in partnership with the Morris County Department of Human Services.

Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon with Sheriff's Office Senior System Analyst Russell Moser. Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon with Sheriff's Office Senior System Analyst Russell Moser.

Free to Morris County residents between the ages of 18 and 54, the photo ID Card program was designed to help at-risk and struggling individuals “ particularly those who may lack a driver's license “ prove their names and residency so they can access medical, rehabilitative, housing and other social service programs.

After the Sheriff, the Chief Sheriff's Officer or a Captain verify the identity of ID Card applicants through other supporting documents, Analyst Moser issues the plastic, credit card-sized IDs that contain the individual's name, address, birthdate, gender, height, weight and eye color. The cards are valid for four years.

The ID cards are part of a mosaic of programs that Sheriff Gannon has started since taking office in January 2017, some in partnership with other departments or non-profit agencies, that assist at-risk individuals. The Sheriff credited Analyst Moser with approaching the duty with empathy and a desire to help individuals in need.

All our programs begin with proper identification. A person cannot get into rehab, detox or intensive out-patient programs without ID. Talking about literacy, a person cannot get a library book without ID, Sheriff Gannon said.

I'd suggest this may be one of the most important things we do in providing services to people. The people who come to us for ID are those with issues of addiction, mental health disorders, and perhaps homelessness. It's rewarding to me, and it's rewarding to Russ (Moser) because we do see people standing up a little taller when they leave than when they entered, Sheriff Gannon said.

The cards, labeled Official Morris County Identification Card, are valid only for identification purposes and may not necessarily be accepted by certain agencies that require a state ID. They can be used as back-up identity documentation and assist a person in obtaining additional proofs of ID.

The Office of the Morris County Clerk separately issues Identification Cards to individuals 55 years of age or older and to U.S. veterans.

To obtain a Morris County Identification Card from the Morris County Sheriff's Office, an individual must prove his or her citizenship or legal status by presenting a U.S. birth certificate, a valid U.S. passport, a permanent resident card, or a naturalization certificate/certificate of citizenship.

In addition, applicants must prove his or her identity and Morris County residency by presenting a valid New Jersey driver's license or a New Jersey Non-Driver ID Card, or alternatively, two items such as a valid library card, voter registration card, auto registration, Social Security Card, health insurance or work ID with a photo, plus a recent mailing to his or her home address.

For more information on the program and how to obtain a Morris County ID Card, please visit:

https://sheriff.morriscountynj.gov/community/morris-county-id-card/

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