Reforming law on criminal records offers offenders with 'second chance'

Research shows that getting a job was 'one of the key factors' in stepping away from crime

Effective spent conviction regimes were 'particularly important' for people who came into conflict with the law as children or as young adults. Stock picture

Legislation allowing for criminal histories to be effectively cleared can be important in allowing offenders to “re-engage with society” and “move past their offences”, according to new research.

The study says there was a large bank of evidence to show that getting a job was “one of the key factors” in stepping away from crime.