Spent Convictions

Legislation to expand Northern Ireland's spent convictions regime will be brought forward following strong support in a consultation, justice minister Naomi Long has announced. New legislation will reduce the length of time that it will take for some convictions to become spent and allow more senten

Northern Ireland's High Court has ruled in favour of a convicted arsonist freed more than 33 years ago who submitted that a law preventing convictions of more than 30 months' imprisonment from ever becoming spent breaches his human rights. The court was persuaded to make a declaration that Article 6

The government has said it is supportive in principle of a private member's bill to expand the spent convictions regime, in particular by removing a rule whereby only one conviction outside of minor driving and public order offences can become spent. The Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bil

Proposals to significantly expand the spent convictions regime in Northern Ireland for the first time since its introduction more than four decades ago have gone out for consultation. The consultation, to run until 5 March 2021, presents proposals to reform the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern

Discrimination on the ground of criminal conviction should be banned in equality legislation, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has said. The watchdog made the recommendations as part of its response to the government's review of the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Discl

The Department of Justice has published two research papers on spent convictions as part of a government review of Ireland's spent convictions regime. Justice Minister Helen McEntee last week launched a consultation on spent convictions, inviting views on issues such as what length of sentences shou

A review of Ireland's spent convictions regime, which is likely to lead to the broadening of the range of convictions that are considered spent, has begun with the launch of a government consultation. The consultation, launched by Justice Minister Helen McEntee yesterday, invites views on issues suc

Alternative sentencing and policy approaches are needed to reduce the offending rate among young adults, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has said. Speaking ahead of a seminar on youth justice this afternoon, IPRT executive director Fíona Ní Chinnéide said young adults are mo

Employment legislation should be updated to prevent discrimination against people on the basis of past convictions, an Oireachtas committee has said. The justice committee recently produced a report on Ireland's spent convictions regime after hearing evidence from prisons and rehabilitation experts

An expanded spent convictions scheme in Ireland would help to reduce reoffending and improve socio-economic outcomes in working class communities, an Oireachtas committee has heard. The justice committee today heard evidence on spent convictions from Senator Lynn Ruane; Fíona Ní Chinn&

A draft bill to expand Ireland's spent convictions regime has passed the second stage in the Seanad with unanimous support. The Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bill 2018, introduced by Independent Senator Lynn Ruane in December, will now move on to the committee stage for detailed and line

New research into the experiences of people in Ireland with minor convictions highlights the need for an expanded rehabilitation law, penal reform campaigners have said. The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has published the findings of a new survey it conducted to coincide with the launch of the Cri