Former offenders will find it easier to get work and turn their lives away from crime following a change in the law.
These changes significantly reduce the time people with criminal convictions are legally required to declare them to most potential employers after serving their sentence and when applying for courses, insurance and housing.
Under the previous rules, some offenders needed to disclose their sentences for the rest of their lives, even for crimes committed decades earlier, a significant barrier to them getting a job and rebuilding their lives.
Now, custodial sentences of four years or more years for less serious crimes become ‘spent’ after a seven-year period of rehabilitation, as long as no further offence is committed.
Offenders who have committed serious sexual, violent, or terrorist offences are excluded from these changes to ensure this does not result in an increased risk to the public.
Stricter disclosure rules will continue to apply to jobs that involve working with vulnerable people, through standard and enhanced DBS checks.
The reforms came into force on Saturday (28 October 2023) under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
Dedicated job experts have been recruited in every resettlement prison in England and Wales and the Prison Service has been hosting “Unlocked” job fairs which help match prison leavers with potential employers in sectors ranging from hospitality to construction.
For further information please select the following link Barrier to employment lifted for thousands of ex-offenders - GOV.UK