Nationwide, those previously incarcerated saw their annual earnings reduced by more than 52% when compared with their peers. The Brennan Center report found that an additional 12.1 million people have been convicted of a felony without being imprisoned, while another 45 million Americans have been convicted of at least one misdemeanor. Felony convictions without prison and misdemeanor convictions saw annual earnings drop by averages of 22% and 16% respectively. All told, criminal convictions and imprisonment cost the economy $372.3 billion in lost earnings each year, with misdemeanors accounting for a staggering two-thirds of that figure. “We found severe economic losses for those with even minor criminal convictions.

Source: Forbes September 27, 2020 23:26 UTC