Why a Second Chance is Good for the Economy (and Florida): The Hidden Cost of Criminal Records

Criminal records hurt every American, not just the person with the record. They hurt families, they hurt communities, and they hurt local economies.

This is especially true for those who have served their time and earned a second chance. Today, there are more Americans with criminal records than college degrees. In fact, if you selected 100 random Americans, statistically, at least one is currently sitting in a prison cell. But the real problem begins when they get out.

The financial toll of these records is staggering. Everyday Americans lose an estimated $372.3 billion in wages per year due to underemployment caused by misdemeanor or felony records. This has a massive impact on the individual wallet:

• Misdemeanors: Removing records and the stigma of a misdemeanor could raise earnings by 16%, injecting over $240 billion into the economy.
• Felonies: Even without prison time, a felony reduces wages by 21.7%, removing $77.1 billion from the pockets of American workers.

This is lost money that could have been spent on food, entertainment, education, and anything else a person’s community provides.

We know that employment is a big part of solving this problem and putting a major dent in recidivism. People are 24% less likely to return to prison if they pick up new skills or hold a job while serving time. Furthermore, those who keep a job for a year have a recidivism rate of only 16% (compared to 52% for those who cannot maintain employment).

But here is the problem: a conviction reduces the chance of a job offer by 50%. Even with the skills and the will to work, the record shuts the door.

This is why record clearing is vital. Sealing or expunging a criminal record – while historically tough to do in Florida – changes everything.

When a record is sealed or expunged in Florida, barring a few limited exceptions, you are legally permitted to say that as far as that record is concerned, you have never been arrested or otherwise involved with law enforcement.

Clearing criminal records isn’t just the right thing to do for the individual; it is the right thing to do for society. It lowers crime, boosts the economy, and restores deserved dignity.