From the Guardian · · 2m
Children won't disclose serious crime records to employers
England and Wales will let people hide youth convictions for robbery, drug dealing and violence from job applications under new government plans.
In brief
England and Wales will let people hide youth convictions for robbery, drug dealing and violence from job applications under new government plans. England and Wales will stop requiring people to disclose most crimes committed before age eighteen to employers, aiming to boost youth employment and reduce custody numbers…
Serious youth crimes won't need disclosure
Children convicted of robbery, drug dealing, violent disorder, affray and assault will no longer have to tell employers about those crimes for the rest of their lives under new government proposals.
The disclosure rules that will change
If convicted without a custodial sentence, young offenders disclose for five and a half years. With sentences of two years or less, they disclose for eleven years. Longer sentences still require lifetime disclosure.
Why the government is making this change
Justice minister Jake Richards told the Guardian the government believes people should have second chances to contribute to work and turn their back on crime.The current system does not distinguish between childhood and adult offences.
“Where it's safe, we believe as a government, people should have second chances, second chances to make something of themselves, to contribute to work and to turn their back on crime.”
Background: why this matters now
David Lammy, the former justice secretary, found in a two thousand seventeen review that criminal records from childhood were one reason black and minority people faced discrimination later in life.
Campaigners and employers back the plans
Paula Harriott, chief executive of the charity Unlock, said it is unfair that tens of thousands of people disclose childhood offences irrelevant to who they are today.
“It is not proportionate or fair that each year tens of thousands of people have to disclose childhood offences that are irrelevant to who they are today.”
A former offender's story
Joanne, twenty two, spent eighteen months in a young offender institution after being convicted of affray and assault from age ten, exploited by a gang to sell drugs.
“If my criminal record from five and a half years ago was gone now, I would be able to achieve my dreams, literally, and achieve everything I want to do.”
Other changes to youth justice
The government will end automatic disclosure of out of court resolutions and end a rule that lengthens how long convictions stay on record if someone is convicted of a second crime during rehabilitation.
What happens next
The proposals are subject to consultation and aim to sharply reduce the number of children in custody while increasing support for those convicted of crimes.
In short
England and Wales will stop requiring people to disclose most crimes committed before age eighteen to employers, aiming to boost youth employment and reduce custody numbers.
