Monthly update – August 2015

Welcome to our monthly update for August 2015.

This update 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. other news and developments that might be of interest to individuals with a criminal record

Information updates

Below is a summary of the updates we’ve recently made to our information site.  There are links next to each update where you can find out more information, as well as links to discussions on our online forum where you can discuss these with other members of the forum.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act

Spent and unspent convictions and when you might have to disclose them – There are many ways in which convictions can come up in day-to-day life and we’ve put together some information on how the impact of a conviction may change depending on whether your conviction is spent or unspent.  Let us know about your experiences by posting something on the Unlock forum.

Probation

Supervision in the community (after release from prison and on probation or community order) – The Offender Rehabilitation Act came into force in February 2015. We’ve therefore produced some new information explaining the changes that took place and what impact they will have on people with convictions serving their sentence in the community.

Travel

Travel to Asia – Feedback from one of our forum members has led to some updated information on travel to Asia and in particular, looking at the questions on visa applications and landing cards which relate to criminal convictions. Take a look at the entire post on the Unlock forum.

theRecord posts

Below are links to recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord.  These often go hand-in-hand with the practical information we have on the Hub.

News – Proof that there’s a rehabilitation period for restraining orders with no duration or time specified! – We came across the following email from a client, which typifies the type of questions we often get asked.  This one relates to relevant orders which have ‘no specified end date’ and sets out the response received from Disclosure Scotland.

Successes – Success with dealing with the ‘Google effect’ – I would like to share with readers of theRecord how new rules allowing Google links to be removed (‘The right to be forgotten’) has turned my life around. I really do believe that it can be of use to people with convictions.

Have you got a story or experience that could be posted on theRecord.  Get in touch.

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 the Unlock website.

Changes to our monthly updates

This month we’ve made a few changes to how we do these updates. Previously, we’ve focused on details about the updates that we’ve made to our information site and although this will remain the focus of these updates, we’ve broadened it out slightly to try and respond to feedback we’ve received.  These monthly posts will now not only include practical links to information updates we’ve made, but also to new posts to theRecord, as well as other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record.

Principles of Fair Chance Hiring – Draft for Consultation

As part of our Challenging Employment Discrimination project, we’re promoting ‘Fair Chance Hiring’ policies in our approach to supporting employers.  We’ve developed a set of high-level principles for putting ‘Fair Chance Hiring’ into practice.  Download the draft and let us have your feedback.

Help us challenge discrimination through digital storytelling – Volunteering opportunity

Part of our policy and campaign work involves making the case for why people with convictions should be treated fairly.  An effective way of doing this is using real stories.  We are looking for volunteers to help us create some ‘digital stories’.  Find our more here.

Call for experience – Does a criminal record have an impact on social housing

We want to hear from anybody who believes that their criminal record has impacted on their housing situation with local authorities and social housing providers. To find out more about our policy work in this area see here.

Unlock’s response to the Scottish Government Consultation

We’ve submitted our written response to the Scottish Governments’ consultation on proposals to reform the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  We broadly support the proposals, but urge the Scottish Government to go further, in the same way that we continue to urge the UK Government to build on the reforms that came into force in 2014.