01 November 2023
Certain custodial sentences will no longer need to be declared to potential employers and when applying for courses, insurance and housing as of last week under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
Previously, some offenders needed to disclose their sentences for the rest of their lives. Custodial sentences of four years, or longer for certain less serious crimes, will be spent after seven years as long as no further offence is committed. Serious sexual, violent or terrorist offenders are excluded from these changes in order to protect the public.
Stricter disclosure rules will continue to apply to jobs that involve working with vulnerable people.
Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk said: ‘These reforms will help ex-offenders get the steady income, routine and purpose they need.’
