Criminal Records Disclosure Form

CRIMINAL RECORDS DISCLOSURE FORM

Guidance Notes

Please read this information carefully before completing the Criminal Records Disclosure Form.

PLEASE RETURN THE CRIMINAL RECORDS DISCLOSURE FORM UNDER SEPARATE COVER IN AN ENVELOPE MARKED CONFIDENTIAL WITH YOUR FULL NAME. ALL APPLICANTS MUST DO THIS WHETHER YOU HAVE A CONVICTION OR NOT.

1.  The ‘Confidential’ envelope will ONLY be opened in the event that you are short listed for the position applied for.

2.  All envelopes containing Criminal Conviction Disclosure Forms completed by unsuccessful applicants will be shredded, unopened, once the shortlisting process has been completed.

3.  The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 enables criminal convictions to become ‘spent’ or forgotten after a ‘rehabilitation period.’ After this period, with certain exceptions, a person with a conviction is not legally obliged to mention it when applying for a job.

The Women in Prison Criminal Records Disclosure form asks you to list only those criminal convictions which remain ‘unspent’ under the 1974 Act.

If you have a conviction and you need more information about the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, contact:

Nacro Resettlement Plus Helpline - 020 7840 6464 or free phone (for ex-offenders and their families and friends only) 0800 0181 259

Alternatively, visit:

http://www.nacro.org.uk/data/resources/nacro-2005011700.pdf

4.  Prison security checks

Legally you are not obliged to give us information on any spent convictions however if the post you are applying for involves visits to prisons you will be required to undertake a prison security check. Unspent convictions may appear in their records and they will take these into consideration when assessing your suitability for entry into any HMP establishments.

Women in Prison is committed to employing ex-offenders but for some roles, clearing this security check is a prerequisite. The Prison Service does not have any set criteria for determining which convictions bar a person from entering an establishment in a professional capacity.

It may therefore be helpful for us if you disclose any spent convictions either on the disclosure form or in person at the interview, please note this is entirely voluntary.

Please don’t be put off applying to us if you have a conviction, Women in Prison is committed to employing ex-offenders where possible.

Thank you for your co-operation.