Dominican University students helping participants at a California Driver's License Workshop obtain their driver's license.
Preventing Crime and Improving Lives
Why This Matters
"At the Marin County Public Defender’s Office, we noticed that a huge percentage of criminal charges in our county were for driving without a license or driving on a suspended privilege. Though the penalties for these offenses may not often be very serious, it put hundreds and hundreds of people every year on probation and created the stress of having a criminal case pending when all our clients really needed was a license. Marin County has extremely limited public transportation options, so people who have trouble managing to get a driver’s license are often left with little other choice than to drive unlicensed. Many of these charges were filed against people who were already our clients and who had previously been arrested for DUIs or similar offenses. After such an arrest, no one was helping them to get their license, and this just kept leading to more arrests and charges for driving on a suspended privilege. We believed, as do most people, that clogging the courts with these types of cases is an inappropriate use of the criminal system." - Rachael Keast, Deputy Public Defender / Immigration Attorney
Impact
We are working to improve clients' lives by restoring their driving privileges and ensure they never enter the criminal legal system in the first place. Obtaining and possessing a driver's license is impactful because it can open opportunities for employment, education, and housing. Since the inception of this program, over 100 clients have obtained their California driver's licenses.
Get Help With
- DMV navigation
- Create a DMV account
- Assistance with document preparation
- Driving and written test support
- DUI education and assistance
- In-person study workshops and support
Contact our office with questions.
Espacio de Apoyo
Espacio de Apoyo events are study workshops that facilitate a supportive learning space for clients. These events encourage participants to study for the written driver’s license exam alongside Dominican University students. Once participants feel ready, staff will also help them schedule an appointment to take the written exam.