Under the current Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, a conviction resulting in a custodial sentence of 36 months or more will never be 'spent' and must be disclosed for the rest of that person's life.
What incentive does this offer them not to offend again? Many never will – but even they can never be officially 'rehabilitated', no matter how hard they try and how long for. This is surely a huge obstacle to the Government's efforts to cut re-offending – not to mention the number of people who are being supported by the state because their criminal record ensures no employer will take them on.
The consequent social exclusion plays a large part in some people's return to offending. Isolation affects mental health and decision-making. And no matter how spartan or unpleasant the prison environment is made in future, for many it will still be preferable to be part of a community where they are accepted.
Were these convictions to become spent after a certain number of (law-abiding) years, it would NOT put vulnerable people at risk – the procedures for vetting those working with children, the elderly etc already require an enhanced CRB check which shows both spent and unspent convictions. It WOULD, however, give ex-offenders something concrete to aim for and be a huge incentive not to re-offend.
It would cut re-offending thus making the public safer.
Less people would be in prison, thus saving the public money.
Less people would be living on benefits, thus saving the public money.
By decreasing the isolation of ex-offenders, less would need treatment for mental health problems, thus saving the public money.
And of course, from a humanitarian point of view, it would offer ex-offenders the chance to rejoin society and help society to conquer the crippling fear, prejudice and general bloodlust that is doing no-one – law-abiding or otherwise – any actual good.
I think this is a wonderful idea, It effects everyone in everything society does. Even down to housing and insurance. Please change this soon