Unlock is a national independent advocacy charity that supports, speaks up and campaigns for people facing stigma, prejudice and discrimination because of their criminal record.
Our new strategy for 2026-2031 sets out an ambitious vision for tackling the enduring impact of criminal records and creating a society where people are not permanently defined by their past mistakes. We believe that growth, rehabilitation and change should be recognised in practice and that everyone should have the opportunity to move forward into work, education, family life and civil participation.
The Long Shadow of Criminal Records
Our strategy is shaped by the concept of the “long shadow” of a criminal record.
For many people, punishment does not end when a sentence ends. Criminal records can continue to affect opportunities and relationships for years, or even decades, through:
- Disclosure and DBS systems.
- Digital permanence and online information.
- Institutional barriers and assumptions about risk.
- Stigma, prejudice and discrimination.
Over the next five years, we will work to dismantle these barriers by challenging unfair systems, changing public narratives and ensuring that people’s lives are not defined by their past.
Our Strategic Aims
1. Support people to move on
We are strengthening our frontline services so that more people can:
- Access specialist advice on criminal records, disclosure, DBS checks and employment.
- Challenge unfair treatment and discrimination.
- Build confidence, self-advocacy and resilience.
- Access employment, volunteering and other opportunities.
We will transform our helpline into a broader Information, Advice and Support (IAS) service, expand casework and advocacy, develop employment-readiness programmes and increase outreach through our Better Advice for All (BAFA) network.
2. Change systems that hold people back
We will continue to push for reform of laws, policies and practices that extend punishment beyond a court-imposed sentence.
Our priorities include:
- Reforming criminal records disclosure and DBS practices.
- Campaigning for stronger digital protections.
- Improving access to financial products such as insurance.
- Challenging unfair barriers to employment and education.
- Supporting civic participation and inclusion.
- Developing a blueprint for a Rehabilitation and Reintegration Act.
3. Shift power through lived experience leadership
We believe that lived experience should shape decisions, services and policy. We will:
- Embed lived experience leadership throughout Unlock.
- Develop leadership pathways for people with criminal records.
- Publish a co-production charter.
- Support public advocacy, research and decision-making led by people with lived experience.
This work recognises that lived experience is expertise and that meaningful change requires power to be shared, not simply consulted on.
4. Build a strong, ethical and sustainable organisation
To maximise our impact, we must be resilient, effective and sustainable. We will continue to invest in:
- Financial sustainability and diversified income.
- Strong governance and accountability.
- Staff, volunteer and trustee development.
- Equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Responsible and ethical use of technology and AI.
We will remain independent, evidence-led, collaborative, trauma-informed and values-driven in everything we do.
Our values
Everything we do is guided by five core values:
- Optimism – belief in change and second chances.
- Inclusion – equity, fairness and belonging.
- Authenticity – evidence, integrity and transparency.
- Pragmatism – practical solutions that work.
- Courage – challenging harmful systems and narratives.
Our commitment
This strategy is about more than supporting individuals. It is about transforming the systems, attitudes and structures that create barriers for people with criminal records.
Over the next five years we will:
- Tackle stigma and discrimination.
- Reform unjust systems.
- Centre lived experience leadership.
- Build partnerships and collaborations.
- Work in an intersectional way that recognises the impact of race, gender, disability and other inequalities.
- Create lasting change so that people with criminal records can move on positively in their lives.
Read the full Strategy 2026-2031: “Ending the Long Shadow of Criminal Records”.
