Abstract
There have been a number of significant developments in recent years that have contributed to the growth and permanency of criminal records in England and Wales. First, the greater recording and retention of criminal records and their connection to the processes of disclosure associated with the suitability or otherwise of people to work with children and other vulnerable people. Secondly, the expansion of the type of offences which are recorded in criminal records, both recorded in criminal statistics and in personal records. And thirdly, the performance culture where police force performance is measured by a series of collated figures and targets, in particular detection targets.
In addition to these developments, a ruling in the Supreme Court of Justice Court of Appeal (Civil Division) (2009 EWCA Civ 1079) allows all personal criminal records to be retained and potentially be disclosed for up to one hundred years.
This article examines these developments with particular reference to juveniles. The impact such records may have on employment prospects and especially work with either young people or vulnerable adults is examined.
In this article ‘juvenile’ refers to those aged 10 to 17 years of age who if charged with a crime would normally appear at a Youth Court.
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