Naomi Long

New legislation will reduce the length of time that it will take for some convictions to become spent and allow more sentences to be capable of becoming spent.

The Department of Justice today published a summary of responses to its consultation, in which 97 per cent of respondents were in favour of a review of rehabilitation periods for convictions in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Long said: “Evidence shows that former offenders who are able to get back into the world of work are less likely to reoffend, thereby ensuring there are fewer victims of crime, making our communities safer and reducing the number of repeat offenders within the justice system.

“It is essential that we have a criminal justice system which punishes offenders appropriately and fairly, protects the public and supports victims. But we also need a system that can reform offenders effectively so that they do not go on to commit further crimes.”

Rehabilitation periods have remained essentially unchanged since 1978 while sentences have tended to become longer, the Department has said.

Mrs Long said: “The changes that I intend to bring forward are long overdue. They will reset the periods for sentences to be spent and actively support rehabilitation of offenders and their reintegration back into communities.

“However, public protection measures will not be reduced as existing measures relating to safeguards for sensitive employments, such as working with children, young people and vulnerable adults will remain unchanged.”

She concluded: “I have shared my proposals for legislative reform for consideration by the committee for justice and I look forward to taking receipt of their comments on my proposed way forward in due course.”