Securing employment or training, and the ability to rebuild a life after committing an offence, is crucial to breaking the cycle of offending. Effective spent convictions legislation has a major role to play in removing barriers to the reintegration of former offenders and prisoners who have demonstrated that they have moved on from past offending behaviour.
For information on whether the Spent Convictions legislation signed into law in February and commenced end April 2016 applies to you, please see Citizens Information. If this does not answer your question, please contact the Department of Justice - contact details here.
With thanks to SpunOut.ie we have produced a short information video on Spent Convictions (for convictions received for offences committed over 18). We have also produced an easy-to-read information sheet on spent convictions.
For questions about the Garda Vetting 'Admin Filter', please contact the Garda Central Vetting Unit.
IPRT has been campaigning for robust and extensive Spent Convictions legislation to be introduced in Ireland since 2007. You can read all about our work and recent developments below.
Offences committed under age 18?
Under Section 258 of the Children Act 2001, offences committed by those under eighteen years of age can be expunged from the record once certain conditions are met. See here.
With thanks to SpunOut.ie, we also have a short information video on Expungement of Convictions (for convictions received for offences committed under 18). We have also produced an easy-to-read information sheet on expungement of convictions.
8th April 2016
The Minister for Justice and Equality announced on Wednesday, 6th April last, that the Act is to be commenced on the 29th April this year. Minister Fitzgerald went into further details of the Spent Convictions Act with regards to the offences that the Act will cover.
12th February 2016
The Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016 was signed into law by President Higgins on 11th Feb 2016.
3rd February 2016
The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has today (Wednesday, 3 February 2016) welcomed the passage of the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Bill 2012 through both houses of the Oireachtas.
29th January 2016
The 'Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Bill 2012' was passed in the Dáil on Wednesday 27th January 2016.
26th January 2016
The 'Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Amendment Bill 2012' is scheduled to return to the Dáil at Order for Report, Report and Final Stages on 27th January 2016.
20th January 2016
IPRT has updated its submission, including suggested amendments, on the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012.
14th July 2015
This paper aims to provide an insightful perspective into youth justice policy and practice in Northern Ireland with a focus on designing interventions to aid desistance.
6th July 2015
Chairperson of IPRT, Prof Michael O'Flaherty, on spent convictions as a human rights issue.
1st April 2015
The Winston Churchhill Memorial Trust has published a report which compares European Countries responses to protection, deletion and expungement of Criminal Records.
10th March 2015
In response to a question by Senator Ivana Bacik, the Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald TD has stated that she hopes the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill will be enacted before summer 2015.
6th February 2015
In January 2015, IPRT conducted a short survey on the impact of having a criminal record in Ireland.
5th February 2015
The eighth seminar for the All Party Oireachtas Penal Reform Group of TDs and Senators discussed the need to pass the Spent Convictions Bill without further delay.
9th January 2015
As we wait for the Spent Convictions Bill to return to the Oireachtas (having stalled at Report Stage 21 months ago, March 2013) an article on ArthurCox.com offers a good overview of the implications arising from the relevant case in the UK.
8th January 2015
A short document outlining the current situation with regard to spent convictions and why enacting legislation is so important.
11th June 2014
Since 31st March 2014, an ‘administrative filter’ has been in place whereby certain information is no longer included on Garda Vetting forms.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.