Changes and chances are needed for young people

The #FairChecks campaign argues that cautions and convictions – even for minor offences – carry a hidden punishment which holds people back in employment, education and housing, long after they have served their sentence and is calling for slates for minor offences, committed as a young person to be wiped clean.

One advocate shares their story:

I had, from the ages of 16 to 21, been arrested for petty offences from back when I was a troubled teen. No account was taken that in nearly 30 years I had changed my life and had not re-offended. Making me a trusted citizen like everyone else in society".

I had historic convictions where the punishments were probation, fines and community service. Luckily the deterrent for me was the near miss of being sent to prison back in 1990.

The judge sent me to Norfolk Park bail hostel in Sheffield far away from the people I was hanging out with. 

I was given a support worker called Caroline and she took the time to help me to realise that the life of crime was not the way. Caroline helped me to get into college and learn a new way of life. I then went on and, at 40 years old, I graduated UCLAN University with an honours degree in children, schools and family studies.

This meant I could help children and young people and to break down any stigma around getting into trouble with the police and being stigmatised as a criminal, a person who could not be trusted. I was proof people can change and grow up.

Over the years my applications for college, university, work placements and jobs have meant enhanced disclosures due to working with children and young people. For nearly 30 years I have had to let employers know beforehand that I had a criminal record from 1992.That the convictions will show in an enhanced disclosure.

I had to start interviews by letting them know I had offences from when I was young and I left home at 16 with no direction in life. I found it embarrassing and it made me uncomfortable but I had to be honest.Even though I had not been in any trouble with the police for many years since.

I was lucky in the area that I chose to work as the employers were often on my side, meaning they didn't judge, they understood that people growing up can have problems at home for many reasons and that they can get in with the wrong crowd and make mistakes.

We have all been teenagers, it can be hard growing up!

You do not think of the future and how getting into trouble may ostracise you later in life and set you apart. But how long should you have to pay your debt to society? The rest of your life if the offences are not that serious? Of course not, people grow up and people can change with the right help. I'm proof!

Luckily now the DBS enhanced checks have filters where offences that are historical and less serious offences will be filtered out. Meaning I should now have a clear record after all these years.

There is information about what offences get filtered but this is complex and not easy to access. However there is support from charities like Nacro, Locked Up and DBS.

I am proud to say I have worked with young people now for a lot of years in many sectors, children centres, nurseries, schools and social services.

With the right support young people can and do leave a life of crime behind. They should not have to be stigmatised forever for petty offences many years ago. They are not a second class citizen as I was made to feel. 

In this day and age changes and chances are needed for young people and adults and I am proud to speak up for young people to ensure they do not experience being held back by the justice system.

This blog was written on behalf of the #Fairchecks campaign and is the view of one youth advocate, who is now a grandmother, campaigning for an overhaul of the criminal records system.