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The Cost of a Second Chance: How Much Does It Take to Rebuild Life After Prison?

Published on March 6, 2025, by InmateAid

Table of Contents

 

Introduction - Why Freedom Isn’t Free After Prison

For millions of Americans leaving prison each year, freedom comes with a price tag that few are prepared to pay. While the legal sentence may be over, the real sentence — rebuilding a life with nothing but a criminal record and the clothes on your back — is just beginning. Most returning citizens leave prison with less than $100 in gate money, no home, no job, and no transportation. Many face restitution, court fines, and supervision fees before they’ve earned a dollar. Reentry is a costly, uphill climb, and too often, the price of a second chance is more than individuals — or their families — can afford.

Financial Costs of Basic Reentry Needs

The moment a person walks out of prison, they face immediate financial demands. Securing housing requires a security deposit, first month’s rent, and often application fees. For people with criminal records, those costs may multiply, as landlords often charge higher deposits or risk fees — if they’re willing to rent at all.

Transportation becomes another expensive obstacle. Many leave prison with a suspended license, or they need to pay for driving courses, reinstatement fees, and fines. Those who rely on public transportation quickly discover that job interviews, parole check-ins, and required programs often happen far from reliable transit lines, adding time and cost to every trip.

Even basic needs — clothing, food, hygiene products, and a working cell phone — cost money that most returning citizens simply don’t have. For individuals on parole or probation, there are mandatory supervision fees, drug testing costs, and sometimes electronic monitoring charges, all before a paycheck ever arrives.

Freedom after prison doesn’t mean freedom from legal obligations. Many returning citizens want to clear their records through expungement or record sealing, but those legal processes often require court filing fees, attorney assistance, and documentation retrieval — all adding up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

For parents, reuniting with children often requires modifying child support orders, which can also involve legal fees. Others need lawyers to fight employment discrimination, landlord denials, or to challenge erroneous background checks. Immigrants with criminal records face complex immigration legal battles that demand specialized (and expensive) legal expertise.

The Emotional and Psychological Cost

The financial burdens are only part of the story. Reentry comes with severe emotional and psychological costs, especially for those returning to fractured families, broken relationships, or hostile communities. Many formerly incarcerated individuals struggle with PTSD, depression, and anxiety, yet accessing mental health care — particularly trauma-informed care for people with incarceration history — is often financially out of reach.

Even those who are emotionally strong face constant rejection. Applications for jobs, apartments, and even educational programs frequently end the moment the record appears. This cycle of hope followed by rejection leads to chronic stress, feelings of worthlessness, and for some, a return to illegal means of survival.

The Social Cost of a Record

Long after the physical prison gates open, the invisible prison of stigma remains firmly locked. Landlords, employers, and even former friends and family see the record, not the person. Neighborhoods with strict rental policies may prohibit anyone with a felony from renting, even if the offense was non-violent and decades old. Employers who claim to support second chances often quietly filter out applicants with records once the background check comes back.

One returning citizen explained:
“I did my time. I’m clean, working hard, trying to stay out of trouble. But every time I apply for something, I’m reminded that to the world, I’m still just a felon.”

Who Pays? The Unfair Burden on Families

The hidden sponsors of most reentry efforts are the families of the formerly incarcerated. Parents, partners, siblings, and even adult children frequently cover rent, food, clothing, transportation, legal fees, and emotional support after release. For low-income families, this financial support can quickly become a crushing burden — leading to missed bills, eviction risk, and generational poverty.

In families where incarceration already disrupted finances, adding reentry costs becomes a double punishment — one for the incarcerated person and another for the family they return to. As one mother described:
“I had to choose between keeping my lights on or paying for my son’s first month’s rent. It’s like the whole family gets sentenced.”

Success Costs Too – Even Reintegration Has a Price

Even those who successfully reintegrate face hidden costs of success. Want to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) after prison? That’s $3,000 or more for training. Want to clear up bad credit caused by fines or identity theft while incarcerated? You’ll need credit repair services. Want to go to college? Many formerly incarcerated students can’t access federal student loans due to old drug convictions, and private scholarships rarely welcome applicants with records.

Comparing the Cost of Reentry vs. Recidivism

It’s worth comparing: the average cost to incarcerate someone for a year ranges from $30,000 to over $60,000, depending on the state. In contrast, investing in comprehensive reentry programs — legal aid, transitional housing, employment assistance, and counseling — costs a fraction of that amount, often less than $10,000 per participant. The math is clear: helping people succeed after prison is far cheaper than cycling them back into custody.

A Second Chance Shouldn’t Be Pay-to-Play

Ultimately, the cost of a second chance in America shouldn’t rest solely on the shoulders of returning citizens and their families. True second chances require policy reform that reduces financial penalties after release, funding for reentry legal aid and supportive housing, and a cultural shift toward seeing returning citizens as people with potential, not permanent criminals. Until that happens, freedom will remain something you have to buy — and not everyone can afford it.

Resources to Ease the Financial Burden

For returning citizens and families seeking free or low-cost reentry assistance, these organizations provide help:

FAQs

 

1. How much money do most people leave prison with?

The majority of people released from prison receive “gate money,” a small sum provided by the correctional facility. In most states, this ranges from $50 to $200, depending on local policies. In some cases, individuals receive nothing if they’ve already been released to parole supervision or transferred to another facility before release. For people with no family support, this small amount is often gone within days.

2. What are the biggest expenses immediately after release?

The biggest post-release costs include housing deposits and rent, transportation, clothing, food, and phone service. Housing is often the most expensive challenge, especially if landlords require higher deposits for applicants with criminal records. Many people also face supervision fees, mandatory drug testing costs, and unpaid court fines that follow them after release.

3. How much does it cost to get a criminal record expunged?

Expungement costs vary by state, but they typically include court filing fees, fingerprinting or background check fees, and attorney costs if legal help is needed. Filing fees alone can range from $100 to $400, and hiring a private attorney can cost $1,000 to $3,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the case. Many returning citizens can’t afford expungement, which keeps the cycle of barriers in place.

4. Do families of returning citizens often pay these costs?

Yes, families frequently bear the financial burden of reentry. Parents, spouses, siblings, and even adult children often cover rent, food, transportation, legal fees, and phone bills after release. For families already struggling financially — a common reality for those impacted by incarceration — this added expense can push them closer to poverty or eviction.

5. How much do parole and probation cost?

Supervision isn’t free. Many people on parole or probation are required to pay monthly supervision fees, which can range from $30 to $100 per month, depending on the state. They may also have to pay for mandatory drug testing, ankle monitor rental, counseling programs, and restitution to victims. These costs add up fast, especially if someone has no stable income after release.

6. What happens if a returning citizen can’t pay their fines or fees?

Failure to pay court fines, parole fees, or restitution can lead to serious consequences, including:

  • Revocation of parole or probation.
  • Additional court hearings.
  • Wage garnishment.
  • Driver’s license suspension.
    In extreme cases, nonpayment can even lead back to incarceration, effectively creating a modern-day debtor’s prison.

7. What does transportation cost after release?

Without a valid driver’s license or vehicle, many returning citizens rely on public transportation — which isn’t always accessible, especially in rural areas. Bus passes, train fares, and rideshares quickly become expensive for people attending parole check-ins, job interviews, drug testing, and required programs. Reinstating a suspended license can cost several hundred dollars, plus fees for mandatory driving courses or insurance increases.

8. What’s the connection between money problems and recidivism?

Studies consistently show that people who leave prison without stable housing, reliable transportation, and legal employment are significantly more likely to be rearrested. Financial stress — combined with constant rejection — often pushes people into survival crimes like theft, drug sales, or violating parole conditions just to meet basic needs. Poverty-driven recidivism isn’t about bad choices — it’s about having no legal options left.

9. How much does reentry legal help cost?

Reentry legal help can range from free (through legal aid or pro bono clinics) to thousands of dollars if private attorneys are needed. Services like expungement, child support modification, housing discrimination challenges, and occupational license applications often require legal expertise, making affordable legal aid critical for successful reentry. Many returning citizens can’t afford private attorneys, which leaves them facing legal barriers alone.

10. What programs help cover the cost of reentry?

Several national and local programs provide free or low-cost reentry assistance. These include:

Accessing these programs early can reduce reentry costs, but demand often exceeds supply, meaning returning citizens need to act quickly after release.