Monthly summary – January 2018

Welcome to our monthly summary for January 2018.

This provides a summary of:

1. the latest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions
2. recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord
3. discussions on our online forum
4. other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record

Have you just stumbled across this? You can receive these updates direct to your inbox every month for free by signing up to our mailing list (make sure you choose to receive ‘news for people with convictions’)

Updates to our information site

Here’s a summary of the updates that we’ve made recently to the theInformationHub. There are links within each update to where you can find more information about the update. There are also links next to many of the updates, which link to threads on our online forum where you can discuss these with other people with convictions. 

Criminal record checks for employment

• Basic DBS checks – Following the introduction of basic criminal record checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service, we’ve produced a new page which provides an overview of the new service being offered by the DBS together with details of how to apply for your basic check.

Coming to the UK

• Applying for leave to remain in the UK – We’ve updated this page to include details of how the Home Office make a decision on whether to grant leave to remain based on the sentence/disposal you were given in court plus some updated links to the Home Office guidance.

Seven stages of a criminal record

• Help us test some new developments on our information site – Alongside the existing structure of our information hub site, we’re developing the seven stages of a criminal record, which will provide specific information on each stage of the criminal justice journey. It’s still in the developmental stage and we’re looking for feedback from users.

theRecord posts

Below are links to recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord. These are often linked to from the practical information that we have, to help give some personal experiences.

Views and reviews – ‘Without a voice’ by Michelle Nicholson: A review – “Michelle was just 22 years old when she was convicted of the murder of her father. As a single parent, rejected by her schizophrenic mother she was desperate for love and happiness. This search for affection led her to become involved with a man she believed to be good and kind and someone who would give her and her daughter a better life …..”

Success – A clear cut choice – training to become a barber whilst in prison –“When you start to read this I hope you don’t think I’m one of those grumpy old men, I’m really not. You see things were different when I was a kid …..”

Struggles and stigma – Driven to suicide as a result of an enhanced DBS certificate – the problem with the disclosure of police intelligence – “Ann (not her real name) was a decent, lively young lady who always wanted to work with children. After leaving school she went to university, got her degree and set about getting herself a job. Very quickly she found something that she thought was very interesting with good prospects for promotion and which involved working with children in care …..”

Discussions on our online forum

Below are links to recent posts to our online forum. If you’d like to join in the discussion but are not currently a forum member, find out how you can join here.

European Arrest Warrant – Following his conviction, Nestor returned to France last year without the prior permission of his probation officer. He’d now like to travel within the EU but is worried that he may be arrested whilst travelling through an EU border. Do you have any information or advice you can give him?

I want to expand my social circle – Thorsworth is currently on the SOR and is looking for some advice about what kind of activities/groups he can join. Can anybody recommend anything?

Other news and developments

Below are links to other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record. For more news, check out the news and media section of our main website.

Winter 2017/18 Newsletter – What we’ve been upto

We’ve published our winter newsletter setting out details of what’s been happening at Unlock in the last three months.

Changes to rules for charities and criminal records – coming soon

Christopher Stacey,  Unlock’s co-director has written a news post highlighting changes to the ‘automatic disqualification’ rules that affect who can run a charity, which will come into force on 1st August 2018.

Unlock reports on another successful year

We’ve published our Annual Report for 2016/17 which includes our financial statements and describes the impact we’ve had during the year.

Unlock is recruiting trustees

We’re looking for people to join our Board of Trustees who have the skills, passion, vision and influence to help us meet our objectives and take the charity into the future.