The cost of a criminal record and tools to help break the cycle

Imagine this: You’re finally free. You put in the work while incarcerated. You step out into the world, ready to start fresh. You need a job, a place to live, maybe even a bank account. But before you can even Google “jobs near me,” reality hits like a ton of bricks.

You have no savings. No credit. Maybe even thousands of dollars in court fees and child support debt that didn’t magically disappear while you were inside. Oh, and that job you’re hoping for? Employers aren’t exactly throwing offers your way. In fact, formerly incarcerated individuals face an unemployment rate of 27%, five times the national average. And if you’re a Black woman? That jumps to 43%.

Let’s not sugarcoat it. Reentry into society after incarceration is basically the financial equivalent of starting a game of Monopoly where everyone else already owns Boardwalk and Park Place, and all you’ve got is a Get Out of Jail Free card (literally).

The financial mess no one prepares you for

Finding a job isn’t just hard, it’s expensive. Many industries require licenses, and surprise! Over 25% of jobs in the U.S. won’t even consider you if you have a record. And let’s say you do land an interview. Do you have professional clothes? A resume? A way to get there if public transportation isn’t an option? The financial barriers start stacking up fast.

And it doesn’t stop at employment. Housing? Nearly 80% of landlords run background checks, and a criminal record is basically a fast pass to a rejection email. Health insurance? Over 85% of formerly incarcerated people have chronic medical or mental health conditions, but good luck getting care without employer-sponsored insurance. And let's not forget about court fines and parole fees that can total more than $20,000 before you’ve even earned your first paycheck.

It’s not just an individual problem, it’s an economic one. Lost wages from employment discrimination cost the U.S. economy $55.2 billion a year. That’s a billion with a B. When we make it impossible for people to support themselves post-incarceration, we’re not just hurting them, we’re hurting all of us.

So, what’s the fix?

There’s no single, magic-bullet solution to this problem. The financial barriers faced by formerly incarcerated individuals are deeply systemic, tied to everything from outdated hiring policies to legal debt traps and housing discrimination. Fixing it requires big-picture reform, shifts in employer mindsets, and better social safety nets.

But while we can’t solve everything overnight, we can take steps to make reentry less of an uphill battle. One of those steps? Giving people the tools to succeed before they walk out the door. Through the Edovo Learn platform, incarcerated learners can build skills that set them up for success, not just in theory, but in real, tangible ways.

Tools like the Edovo Resume Builder help users create a professional resume that highlights their strengths and transferable skills, so they’re ready to hit the ground running the moment they’re released.

Edovo also offers financial education content that covers the basics of budgeting, saving, debt, and credit—knowledge that’s crucial for anyone navigating the costly maze of reentry. Whether it’s learning how to open a bank account, set up a payment plan for court fines, or avoid predatory lenders, these courses offer practical, judgment-free guidance that helps people rebuild their financial lives with confidence.

Here's what some learners who have engaged in financial education content on Edovo have shared:

• "Because of Edovo, I can finally pursue my passion, personal finance."
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• "Education for incarcerated people is important because it gives us the ability to expand our self image and opens up our mind to possibility. The main reason why people commit crimes is because they have a very poor self-image and low confidence, and thy can only view themselves according to their current surroundings. Once released I am going to start a hedge fund and a holdings company. Edovo has helped me to stay focused on my goal by offering free text books on finance and economics."
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• "Today I'm unlocking emotional and financial stability so I can make better decisions and be successful in every aspect of life upon my release from prison. I feel education is important in prison because we have a lot of time on our hands and without something positive were bound to make bad choices."

No, it’s not a silver bullet. But it is a meaningful start toward a future where people leaving incarceration have more than just hope. They have a plan. And that benefits all of us.

Edovo Resume Builder in an add-on feature to the Edovo Learn platform. If you're a correctional agency interested in adding Edovo Resume Builder to your facility, learn more about Edovo Resume Builder here and contact accounts@edovo.org for more information.

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References

1. Prison Policy Initiative. (2018). Out of Prison & Out of Work: Unemployment among formerly incarcerated people. Retrieved from https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/outofwork.html
2. Brennan Center for Justice. (2021). The steep costs of criminal justice fines and fees. Retrieved from https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/steep-costs-criminal-justice-fines-and-fees
3. Urban Institute. (2018). Returning home: Understanding the challenges of prisoner reentry. Retrieved from https://www.urban.org/research/publication/returning-home-understanding-challenges-prisoner-reentry
4. National Institutes of Health. (2017). Health and incarceration: A workshop summary. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424849/
5. Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. (2015). Who Pays? The True Cost of Incarceration on Families. Retrieved from https://ellabakercenter.org/who-pays-report
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