Changes to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act– what it means to customers

Since March 2014, the amount of time for which some offenders need to disclose convictions have been reduced. 

The reforms to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (ROA) in England and Wales only affect non- Motoring convictions, so the rehabilitation periods for Motoring convictions will remain five years (where there is an endorsement).

Under the new system, rehabilitation periods will consist of the period of the sentence plus an additional specified period, rather than previously, all rehabilitation periods starting from the date of conviction.

Here is a summary of the previous and new periods: 

 

As with the previous scheme, the above periods are halved for persons under 18 at date of conviction (except for custodial sentences of up to six months where the buffer period will be 18 months for persons under 18 at the date of conviction). 

Those convicted before the changes come into force will be affected by the changes, although no convictions which are already spent will become unspent under the new rules.

Further convictions - The rehabilitation periods for further convictions which could be tried in a magistrate’s court ran separately from other unspent convictions. However, following the 10th March changes, neither conviction will become spent until the rehabilitation periods for both offences are over.

Back to news...