1st May 2011
In this article from thejournal.ie, Susan Ryan highlights the upcoming Spent Convictions Bill that is to be published by Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter.
Currently, legislation compels individuals to disclose any criminal record to prospective employers. The article highlights:
If passed, the new legislation would mean that “convicted persons whose sentence is below a specific threshold (6 months imprisonment or a fine), they may, under certain circumstances, withhold details of the conviction”.
IPRT is quoted in the article when we welcomed the inclusion of the Bill among the list of urgent bills which need to be published by the government by the summer.
The IPRT says that people sentenced for minor criminal offences “face ongoing restrictions and barriers in employment, training, education, travel” and in taking out insurance.
Read more:
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.