Should You Declare A Criminal Record? If you have been sentenced for a crime then you will get a criminal record even if you were given an absolute discharge. This can cause difficulties in some situations. For example if you are applying for a job or insurance you may be asked if you have a criminal record. However, if you are not asked you don't have to say.
How Should You Answer If You Are Asked If You Were Asked?
Many people are wondering how to get a job with a criminal record and should they try. Most importantly people are wondering if they should admit on having a criminal record if asked. It may be frustrating but you most definitely need to say the truth. But, there is a loophole if a length of time called the 'rehabilitation period' has passed since your conviction. In that case you no longer have to declare you have a criminal record. However, there still are some exceptions to this:
- If you are applying for a job that offers accommodation, care,leisure or any kind of schooling, supervision or training to youth aged under 18.
- If you are applying for work which offers a social service, or care to elderly people,people with mental problems or physically disabled people, alcohol or drug misusers or folks that are chronically sick.
- If you are applying for a job in the administration of justice like for example - a police officer, probation officer or traffic warden.
- If you are applying for certain professions like - doctor, lawyer, dentist, judge, chemist and accountant.
- If you are applying for jobs that involve some concern about national security.
- If you have served a prison sentence of up to 6 months, the rehabilitation period lasts 7 years if you were eighteen or over when convicted, and 3 and a half years if you were under that age.
- If the prison sentence was between 6 months and two and a half years, the rehabilitation period lasts 10 years if you were aged 18 or over when convicted and 5 years if you were under 18 years.
- If you got a fine, probation (after 3 February 1995), compensation order, community service, combination order or curfew order, the rehabilitation period lasts 5 years if you were over 18 and 2 and a half years if you were under 18.
- If you got an absolute discharge the rehabilitation period lasts 6 months.
How To Tell Your Interviewer/Employer About Your Conviction.
Present yourself in a positive way. Give a clear straightforward account of the conviction with brief details of the offense, sentence and date. Say why you think the conviction is no longer relevant.
You can talk about:
- your social improvement and achievements since the conviction;
- your changes in attitude of mind and the steps you took toward improving your social skills;
- the problems you had at the time the offense occurred and which you have since overcome (for example domestic problems, financial problems, relationship break-up);
- factors that indicate that the offense is a minor consideration (e.g. it was a long time ago, it was a one-off).
When Would Your Police File Get Deleted?
Normally it's deleted after 10 years with a conviction for minor offenses and 20 years after for more serious ones (that could be tried in the Crown Court).
How To Get A Copy Of Your Criminal Record
You can apply to the Magistrates Court or Crown Court (if you are living in the US) - ask the Court Clerk. There could be a small charge for the service.
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Source: www.a1articles.com
