We use some essential cookies to make this website work.
We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.
We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.
You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
Departments, agencies and public bodies
News stories, speeches, letters and notices
Detailed guidance, regulations and rules
Reports, analysis and official statistics
Consultations and strategy
Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports
When to tell a potential employer, university, college or insurance company about a criminal record, when it becomes 'spent' and what shows up on a DBS check.
You might need to tell an organisation about your criminal record when…
The information you need to give about a conviction or caution depends on:…
Use this tool to check if a conviction or caution is still on your basic…
A caution is an official warning from the police. It could be a: simple…
A court might order you to pay: a fine compensation to someone…
A court might give you a conviction for a driving offence, for example…
A court might: give you a prison sentence if you’re 18 or over give you a…
A court might give you: community service (‘community order’) if you’re 18…
A discharge is a type of conviction where a court finds you guilty but…
A court might give you a military conviction if they find you guilty of a…
A table of rehabilitation periods for the most common sentences and disposals, and example scenarios.
What happens if you're charged with a crime. Find out about the hearing, when you can be released on bail and being put in custody (on remand).
If you’re charged with a crime you’ll be given a ‘charge sheet’. This sets…
When you’re waiting for a court hearing or a trial, you might be given…
If the court decides to put you on remand it means you’ll go to prison…
How to appeal a decision by a Crown Court. Find out which forms you'll need and what the appeal process involves.
Under the disregards and pardons scheme, you can get a historic conviction for gay sex offences removed.
Wrongly convicted people will no longer face having “saved living costs” deducted from compensation payments following an update to guidance made today (Sunday 6 August).
The document sets out expectations for HMPPS’s work with people convicted of sexual offences, including both operational requirements and good practice to support assessment, to promote effective rehabilitation and to inform risk management in both probation and prisons.
A company director and his pharmaceutical manufacturing company were sentenced in court today after pleading guilty to two charges of falsifying data that supported the shelf life of a medicine, adversely affecting its quality in order to obtain a licence...
Use these letters to get proof a partner has been convicted of domestic violence against you, if you're applying for legal aid.
The action plan in response to the thematic inspection of work with men convicted of sexual offences by HMI Probation Inspection.
A table of rehabilitation periods for the most common sentences and disposals applied to checks processed until 27 October 2023, and example scenarios.
The scheme to wipe historic convictions for homosexual activity has been expanded.
Hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters wrongly convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal will have convictions quashed following landmark legislation introduced today [Wednesday 13 March].
The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is 10 years old. Children are treated differently from adults, are dealt with by youth courts and sent to special secure centres for young people.
The UK Government has announced that every Postmaster who was wrongfully convicted and has had their conviction overturned as it was reliant on Horizon evidence will be offered £600,000 in compensation.
Use this form to appeal to the Crown Court against a conviction, or a conviction and sentence.
Use this form to appeal against a Crown Court conviction.
Stanmore consultancy boss claimed £25,000 before closing the business in effort to avoid repaying taxpayer loan
Use these letters to get proof a partner has been convicted of child abuse, if you're applying for legal aid.
Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.