Resources for people on Probation

Disclosing Convictions

When applying for a job, you will need to disclose any previous convictions, unless they are considered spent. Whether or not a conviction is considered spent depends on your age at conviction, the type of offence and the length of sentence. The Citizen's Advice Bureau have put together a table which will help you to work out if your conviction is spent.

If you have been sentenced to prison for more than 2 ½ years that conviction will never be considered spent.

Parish Hall enquiry cautions must be declared if you are asked if you have been in trouble with the police, however you don't have to declare them if you are just asked to declare your previous convictions. Speak to your Probation Officer if you are unsure about this.

For some jobs however, convictions are never considered spent – this includes jobs where you will be working with children or vulnerable adults, jobs which are in the police and courts and jobs high up in the finance industry. It should state on your application form that the job is exempt form the Rehabilitation of Offenders Law. Your Probation Officer can guide you on this. 

When to tell a potential employer about your past

If an employer wants to know about criminal records, they will probably ask you in the application form. It is best to be truthful. If there's space in the box you could disclose your convictions there, but it will probably be better to put 'see enclosed' and attach a separate sheet. List your convictions, how they came about and how you feel about them.  If the application form doesn't ask about your record, you could leave it to the interview stage.  Some employers may ask you about your record when they are ready to make you a job offer, so be prepared for this.

How to persuade employers to look beyond your criminal record

Many employers will still consider you if they think your conviction(s) aren't relevant to the job you've applied for, although it can be hard to convince employers you're not a risk and are going to be a reliable, trustworthy employee. Many employers reject applicants who have committed serious crimes, have no skills or have had long periods of unemployment.

For this reason, many ex-offenders do something else on release, such as a training course, voluntary work or start up their own business. Training courses and voluntary work can build your confidence and give you something positive to talk about to employers. They also take the pressure off finding work and increase your chances of being offered work by word-of-mouth.

Don't send out lots of rushed applications - apply for fewer jobs but spend longer on them. Follow the instructions on the application form, show how you meet the person specification and make it neat and tidy. And only apply for the jobs you're likely to get – don't waste time on jobs you haven't got the right skills and experience for. Once you get your first job, if you're a good employee you'll find it easier to get your next job. 

Present your past in a positive light

You need to convince employers that your crimes are in your past, you've moved on and are no longer a risk to anybody. You can say you regret the offence, do not intend to re-offend and now want to work hard. A change in your circumstances is a particularly good way to show you've moved on, so mention it if you've settled into family life or have other responsibilities that would mean you would have too much to lose to re-offend.

If any of these factors apply to you and your conviction(s), explaining them to employers may make them see you in a more positive light:

• your criminal record is very old
• you offended when very young and now have responsibilities such as a wife/husband, a family, a house, a job
• the crime is not relevant to the job you're applying for
• you pleaded guilty to the crime
• you committed the crime because you were going through a bad time, such as financial problems, but these are now sorted out
• the crime sounds more serious than it is
• if the circumstances in which the crime was committed makes it less serious

Make sure these don't sound like excuses. If you're honest and own up to things that were your fault it will show you've accepted responsibility for your actions.

Don't try to hide or gloss over your record, but try not to write or talk too much about it. Stress that you are applying for the job because you think you'll be good at it, and make this the focus of your application or interview.

If you have more than one conviction, you could try to group them together rather than listing them all. For instance, if you've had more than one conviction for theft, you could say 'I have convictions for theft, but the most recent of these is now spent'.

Talk to your Probation Officer if you would like assistance with bringing up convictions with a potential employer.

Physical Health

Your GP will be the first point of call for many ailments, both physical and mental. They can offer medication and emotional support and can refer you to other services, e.g. the Pain Clinic or the Hospital, if they think it is necessary.

A list of Doctors working in Jersey on the Citizens Advice website

If you have been resident in Jersey for more than 6 months you should go to Social Security to get your Health Card. This entitles you to reduced Doctors fees and free prescriptions.

Help 2 Quit Smoking is a free and confidential service offering help to stop smoking. Smoking is an expensive and unhealthy habit, but it can be difficult to stop without support. 

Brook offer free and confidential information and support on relationships, sex, contraception, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. They offer this service to young people up to the age of 21.

The GUM Clinic is a walk-in service, based in the General Hospital. You can be tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections, HIV and hepatitis.

Mental wellbeing

Your GP can offer support and advice on looking after your mental health. They can offer medication to help, or they can refer you to a service specialised in helping people who suffer from depression, anxiety and many other mental health problems, for example the Psychology department. 

A list of Doctors working in Jersey on the Citizens Advice website

The Psychology service is run by the States of Jersey. It is accessed via a referral from your GP or from certain other agencies.  They offer therapies based on talking and listening and also run self-help courses to help you to help yourself.

The Adult Mental Health service is accessed by referral from your GP. Run by the States of Jersey, they offer services for clients aged 16 to 65 who present with a mental health problem.

Mind Jersey offer help and support to anyone experiencing and form of mental distress, from stress to Schizophrenia. They work with individuals, organisations and professionals, offering a wide range of services.

The Samaritans offer free, confidential support 24 hours a day via a number of methods, including face to face, on the phone and via email. They aim to benefit society by improving people's emotional health in order to create a greater sense of well-being.

TOP Jersey offers help to anyone who has a severe phobia, or who suffer with OCD. They run a self-help group on Thursday evenings to help you to overcome your fears and anxieties. To contact the Jersey branch, phone +44 (0) 1534 608008.