The cost of a criminal record—And how Edovo’s Resume Builder helps 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?

Let’s be real—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 The financial barriers faced by formerly incarcerated individuals are deeply systemic, tied to everything from outdated hiring policies to legal debt traps and housing discrimination.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.

That’s where Edovo’s Resume Builder comes in. It’s a simple but powerful tool that helps incarcerated learners build a professional resume, highlight their transferable skills, and prepare for job searches—before they even step foot back into the job market. Because when opportunity knocks, having a polished, ready-to-go resume shouldn’t be another barrier standing in the way.

No, it’s not a silver bullet. But it’s one step toward a future where people leaving incarceration have a real shot at stability—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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