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04/05/2012
Criminal Justice Bill Will Benefit Ex-Offenders
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, T.D., announced today the publication of the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012, which was approved by Government on 1 May 2012.
The Bill provides for certain convictions to become spent after a number of years conviction-free have elapsed. The length of time that a person must remain conviction-free ranges from 3 to 7 years depending on the sentence originally imposed by the courts. Custodial sentences of 1 year or less as well as a range of non custodial sentences are covered by the Bill.
The Minister said that the publication of the Bill was a significant milestone in the rehabilitation of offenders in Ireland.
He said: "This legislation brings Ireland into line with most other EU Member States in providing that people convicted of offences can eventually leave their past behind them and get on with their lives. The Bill should be of particular benefit to ex-offenders, who often find their path to employment blocked, once they admit to a previous offence."
The Minister continued: "I believe that society's interests and those of the offender who mends his or her ways can coincide. It is in everyone's interest that offenders who have paid their debt to society and want to leave crime behind are encouraged to do so."
(CD)
The Bill provides for certain convictions to become spent after a number of years conviction-free have elapsed. The length of time that a person must remain conviction-free ranges from 3 to 7 years depending on the sentence originally imposed by the courts. Custodial sentences of 1 year or less as well as a range of non custodial sentences are covered by the Bill.
The Minister said that the publication of the Bill was a significant milestone in the rehabilitation of offenders in Ireland.
He said: "This legislation brings Ireland into line with most other EU Member States in providing that people convicted of offences can eventually leave their past behind them and get on with their lives. The Bill should be of particular benefit to ex-offenders, who often find their path to employment blocked, once they admit to a previous offence."
The Minister continued: "I believe that society's interests and those of the offender who mends his or her ways can coincide. It is in everyone's interest that offenders who have paid their debt to society and want to leave crime behind are encouraged to do so."
(CD)
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