What we review, why it matters, and how to ensure your content gets approved

Before any content goes live on Edovo, it’s carefully reviewed to ensure it’s safe, appropriate, and aligned with our mission to deliver meaningful education to incarcerated learners. 

Think of it like TSA for digital learning: we’re not here just to slow you down, but to ensure nothing harmful or high-risk makes its way onto the platform and jeopardizes the safety of our learners or the integrity of the system.

This article outlines what we look for during screening—including safety and security risks, copyright considerations, educational alignment, and facility-specific restrictions. Whether you’re submitting a course, video, podcast, or zine, this guide will help you avoid common pitfalls and know what it takes to get your content approved.

What we screen for—and why it matters

Every content item you submit represents not just your message, but our platform. If something slips through—an uncensored drug reference, a facility staff mention, or an emotionally triggering depiction out of context—it could result in a facility removing Edovo entirely. And when that happens, everyone loses access.

That’s why our screening process matters—and why it takes time. Creating content for correctional facilities isn’t just about meaning. It’s about ensuring every resource is safe, secure, and ready for the realities inside.  

1. Appropriateness & security

We screen and restrict content that could compromise the safety, security, or well-being of incarcerated individuals or the facilities in which they reside. Content will not be approved for publishing if it includes:

• Depictions or instructions related to drug use, drug trafficking, or drug manufacturing

• Violence, threats of violence, or references to physical harm—including self-harm or harm to others

• Escape plans, tactics for avoiding supervision, or facility vulnerabilities

• Techniques related to sleight of hand, deception, or survival tactics that could be repurposed to manipulate systems or circumvent supervision

• Instructions for making weapons, tattooing, or other contraband-related activities

• Gang references, symbols, affiliations, recruitment language, or coded communication

• Sexual content, nudity, or sexually explicit material (even when intended for educational purposes)

• Personal data, criminal records, or images of incarcerated individuals or facility staff without documented consent

• Content that glamorizes criminal behavior, reinforces antisocial thinking, or could trigger relapse or trauma

• Messaging that encourages defiance of facility rules or undermines the safety or authority of correctional staff

• Sensitive or graphic content presented without appropriate context, warnings, or instructional framing

• Content that is purely entertainment and not aligned with Edovo’s educational, vocational, rehabilitative, or inspirational categories

If you’re unsure whether something qualifies, we encourage you to reach out before submitting. Content that appears to promote, normalize, or dramatize high-risk behaviors will not be approved.

2. Copyright Permissions

You are responsible for ensuring that every file you upload to Edovo is either:

• Your original work, or
  
  

• Used with clear, written permission from the copyright holder.

Because Edovo’s licensing agreement is with you, it’s your responsibility to secure all necessary rights before submission. That includes content you’ve created with collaborators or borrowed from other sources.

What requires permission?

If you're including any material you didn’t create from scratch—get written permission. This applies to:

• A YouTube video you didn’t produce
  
  

• A podcast episode hosted by someone else
  
  

• A meditation script you found online
  
  

• Graphics or worksheets from another organization
  
  

• Music tracks, stock videos, or external voiceovers
  
  

Example:
Your cousin has a great YouTube channel on mindfulness. Even though you know them personally, you still need written permission to upload their video to Edovo. Here’s why:

• You can’t link to YouTube—Edovo is a closed system.

• The video would be downloaded, uploaded, and played natively on our platform.

• That means no views, no ad revenue, and no analytics for the original creator.

In short: even if content is public online, it doesn’t mean you can use it in a secure, closed digital learning environment without permission.

What about open-source content?

If you're using open-source or Creative Commons materials, make sure they are:

• Clearly labeled for reuse or modification

• Credited appropriately (as required by the license)

• Not restricted to online streaming or view-only conditions

Always double-check the license terms. If you're unsure, reach out to the content creator or publisher for confirmation before using the material on Edovo.

Attribution 101: In most cases, simply crediting the original author or creator by name is enough—especially when using content covered by a Creative Commons license. But keep in mind: attribution doesn’t replace permission. If the material is copyrighted and you don’t have rights to use it, a credit line won’t cut it. When in doubt, check the license or skip it. Here's a helpful resource: Creative Commons License Types.

When in doubt—ask first. Document everything.

If you didn’t make it yourself, don’t upload it unless you’re absolutely sure you have permission in writing. This protects you, Edovo, and the creators whose work deserves proper credit and control.

In short, if someone could reasonably claim ownership, we need to know they’re cool with it being used, distributed, and embedded on Edovo’s platform. Otherwise, we’ll have to hold it until proper licensing is obtained—or not approve it at all.

3. Categorization & educational value
Every item you submit needs to fit within one of Edovo’s content categories—and trust us, we’ve got a wide range. Whether your material is academic, vocational, rehabilitative, inspirational, or practical, it should support growth, healing, skill-building, or self-reflection in some meaningful way.

We currently categorize content into the following areas:

• Academics (Literacy, GED/HiSET, post-secondary)

• Career Readiness (Job search, professional development)

• Career Exploration (Industry overviews, pathways)

• Vocational Skills (Hands-on training and certifications)

• Entrepreneurship (Small business skills, money mindset)

• Recovery (Addiction, mental health, trauma support)

• Reentry (Preparing for life after incarceration)

• Family & Relationships (Parenting, communication, connection)

• Financial (Budgeting, credit, money management)

• Health Information (Medical, fitness, nutrition)

• Emotional Wellness (Mindfulness, resilience, coping)

• Spiritual (Christian, Judaism, Islam, Indigenous beliefs, and more)

• Cultural Expressions (Art, music, storytelling, identity)

• Life Skills (Conflict resolution, self-advocacy, critical thinking)

• Incarcerated Life (Navigating the day-to-day inside)

If your content educates, equips, inspires, or supports personal growth, there’s likely a home for it here. 

What it can’t be is purely entertainment or content that doesn’t align with Edovo’s core mission of providing meaningful, accessible learning for incarcerated adults.

4. FYI: State and facility-specific criteria

Some states and facilities have their own content rules above and beyond Edovo’s screening standards. That means a resource might pass our internal review but still get flagged by a specific facility due to local policies or sensitivities.

If that happens, don’t worry, we’ll be transparent with what we know.Your content can still be published on the rest of the platform; we’ll simply exclude it from the facilities that restrict it.

These guidelines shift often and vary widely, so rather than publish a constantly changing list, we’ll give you the scoop if your content is affected. The goal? Keep your content live and Learners learning while honoring facility guidelines every step of the way.

TL;DR

Every item you submit is a chance to teach, inspire, and empower someone. Following these guidelines helps ensure your content reaches as many learners as possible—without delays or roadblocks.

If you’re ever unsure, don’t guess—ask. Our team is here to support you with pre-review guidance and clear feedback to get your content across the finish line.

Your next read

1. Step 1: Choosing the Right Format for Your Content: Active vs. Passive Learning Experiences
   

2. Step 2: Prepare Your Content for Upload (Edovo Editor vs Edovo Spreadsheet)
   

3. Step 3: Edovo Content Screening (Aka What’s Not Allowed)
   

4. Step 4: What Happens After Screening? Evaluation.
   

5. Step 5: Your Ripple Effect Starts at Publish