The criminal injuries compensation scheme allows victims of serious crime to apply for compensation, based on a tariff of injuries. But victims who have unspent convictions are automatically excluded. To help inform our response to the government’s consultation on the exclusionary rule, we asked people with criminal records for their views.
Below are some anonymous quotes demonstrating the impact of this unfair and discriminatory rule.
We asked:
“I’ll always be seen as a criminal despite [my] conviction being directly linked to being sexually abused. It won’t make any difference whether or not I report it.”
“What would be the point of reporting it if I’m going to be treated like a second class citizen?”
“I would be unwilling to help anyone in case I was then targeted by the perpetrators and was injured or victimised. I would be unwilling to be a witness.”
We asked:
“It makes me feel worthless in the eyes of society”
“Like I don’t matter. That what I went through doesn’t matter”
“Less valued than others, as if I somehow deserved worse treatment, regardless of the circumstances”
“It feels you are excluded from society…Forever being punished long after being rehabilitated.”
“I feel myself being on the on the margins of society…almost a non-citizen because so many doors for me are either closed or only slightly ajar”
“It makes me feel that society doesn’t care if I’m harmed in some way.”
