Monthly summary – May 2019

Welcome to our monthly update for May 2019.

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 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 updates that we’ve made recently to 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 links to threads on our online forum where you can discuss these with other people with convictions.

About criminal records

• Your right to be forgotten – We’ve written a new advice post setting out details of how you can make a request to an organisation to delete your personal data once it’s no longer necessary for them to retain it, for example once your unspent conviction is spent.

Travelling abroad

• Travelling to China – We’ve updated this page to include details of how drug offences are dealt with by the Chinese Immigration authorities.

Other areas of life

• Shotgun and firearms licences – We’ve added the results of a Freedom of Information request which highlights the number of Firearms Certificates issued by the Isle of Man Constabulary.

theRecord posts

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

Success – My caution is still showing on my check but so far it’s not held me back – “Almost ten years ago, I was in the last year of university and had received a teacher training placement to start later in the year. Not long after getting my placement, I was out one evening with my partner when we got into an argument and he ended up head-butting me in the face and knocked me to the floor …..”

Struggles and stigma – The difficulty trying to rehabilitate and reintegrate miles from home – “After serving 10 years in prison (2/3rd’s of a 15 year sentence) I was due for automatic release on a 15 month licence last month. During my entire incarceration I have maintained my innocence of the historic allegations for which I was convicted at the age of 69 …..”

Success – My life behind bars – from prisoner to bar owner – “When you’ve been in and out of prison as many times as I have (I only received short sentences), you’re always going to find it hard to find a job. When you’re 17 stone, over 6ft tall and have an arm full of tattoos – well you’re just living up to some people’s image of a criminal …..”

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.

Friend thinking of disclosing my conviction to neighbours – AndyR was convicted of a downloading offence a year ago. A friend that has always been very supportive recently started to feel that he should disclose Andy’s conviction to neighbours and other friends. Does anybody have any advice they can offer?

New job and found out – Pb01 has just been suspended from his new job after his employer found out information about his criminal record. He’d never previously been asked any questions about his conviction. Has anybody had a similar experience?

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.

Appointing a trustee with a criminal record: reflections of a successful applicant and charity

We’ve published a blog written by a charity working within the criminal justice system that was recently successful in getting a waiver from the Charity Commission for a trustee applicant that was “disqualified” because of their criminal record.

Bloomsbury Institute breaks new ground with ban the box for staff and students

Bloomsbury Institute in London is the first higher education provider in the UK to adopt Ban the Box principles for staff as well as students, a move that could encourage other universities to follow suit. Read more here.