UK Spent Conviction Calculator – Check Your Record

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How Does This Work?

When you receive a conviction or caution in England and Wales, it doesn’t stay on your record forever. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 allows certain convictions to become “spent” after a specific period. Once spent, you generally don’t have to disclose them to employers or insurance companies (unless applying for certain roles).

The rehabilitation period depends on three main factors: the type of sentence you received, how long that sentence was, and whether you were an adult or young person at the time of conviction. Our calculator uses the latest rules that came into effect in October 2023 to give you an accurate result.

This calculator applies to England and Wales only. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules and rehabilitation periods.

Rehabilitation Periods Explained

Here’s a quick look at how long different sentences take to become spent:

Sentence Type Adults (18+) Young People (Under 18)
Custodial sentence up to 12 months 12 months after completion 6 months after completion
Custodial sentence 1-4 years 4 years after completion 2 years after completion
Custodial sentence over 4 years 7 years after completion 42 months after completion
Fine 12 months from conviction 6 months from conviction
Community order 12 months from conviction 6 months from conviction
Conditional discharge End of order period End of order period
Simple caution Immediately spent Immediately spent
Sentences over 4 years for Schedule 18 offences (serious violent or sexual offences), life sentences, and certain public protection sentences can never become spent.

Step-by-Step Guide

Getting your result is straightforward. Just follow these steps:

  1. Choose the type of sentence or disposal you received from the dropdown menu
  2. If it’s a custodial sentence, enter how long it was in months (remember to include any licence period)
  3. Tell us whether you were 18 or over when convicted, or under 18
  4. Enter the date you were convicted (or an approximate date if you’re not certain)
  5. For custodial sentences, you’ll also need to enter when your sentence was completed
  6. Click the calculate button and get your instant result

The more accurate your dates, the more precise your result will be. If you’re using approximate dates, the calculator will tell you this affects accuracy.

Common Questions Answered

What does “spent” actually mean?
Once a conviction is spent, you’re generally treated as if it never happened. For most job applications, insurance forms, and other situations, you don’t have to mention it. However, certain roles (working with children or vulnerable adults, legal professions, financial services) require disclosure of spent convictions through enhanced DBS checks.
When does the rehabilitation period start?
For most sentences like fines or community orders, it starts from the date of conviction. For custodial sentences, it starts from the date you complete your entire sentence including any licence period or time on parole. This is why it’s so crucial to know your completion date, not just your conviction date.
I have multiple convictions – how does that work?
Each conviction has its own rehabilitation period. They’re calculated separately based on when each conviction occurred and what sentence you received. If you were convicted of multiple offences in the same court hearing, these count as a single conviction with possibly multiple sentences. Separate court cases on different dates are separate convictions.
What if I’m reconvicted during the rehabilitation period?
If you’re convicted of another offence before your previous conviction becomes spent, the rehabilitation period for the earlier conviction is extended. Both convictions must become spent before you can stop disclosing them. This doesn’t apply to minor motoring offences that aren’t dealt with by a court.
Are suspended sentences treated differently?
No, suspended sentences follow the same rehabilitation periods as immediate custodial sentences. What matters is the length of the sentence the court imposed, not how long it was suspended for. So a 12-month suspended sentence will have the same rehabilitation period as a 12-month immediate custodial sentence.
Do I still need to disclose spent convictions?
For most purposes, no. Standard DBS checks don’t show spent convictions. However, enhanced DBS checks (required for certain jobs) will show most spent convictions. Some convictions can be “filtered” and won’t appear even on enhanced checks if enough time has passed and they meet certain criteria. Serious offences listed in legislation can never be filtered.
What about cautions?
Simple cautions and youth cautions are spent immediately, meaning you don’t have to disclose them straight away. Conditional cautions become spent after 3 months or when the conditions end, whichever is sooner. However, like convictions, they may still appear on enhanced DBS checks depending on the circumstances.

When You Must Declare Spent Convictions

Even when your conviction is spent, certain situations still require full disclosure:

  • Jobs working with children or vulnerable adults
  • Roles in healthcare, social work, or education
  • Positions in the legal profession (solicitors, barristers, judges)
  • Jobs in law enforcement or the prison service
  • Financial services roles regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
  • Certain licences (taxi drivers, security guards in some areas)
  • Adoption and fostering applications
  • Some insurance policies (though insurers can only ask about unspent convictions for most policies)

These roles typically require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which will show most spent convictions. Always read the application form carefully – it should make clear whether spent convictions need to be disclosed.

Filtering Rules

Beyond rehabilitation periods, there’s another layer called “filtering”. Even if a conviction is spent, it might be filtered from DBS certificates after more time has passed. Here’s how filtering works:

A spent conviction can be filtered from DBS certificates if:

  • 11 years have passed since conviction (5.5 years if you were under 18)
  • It’s not on the list of offences that can never be filtered
  • You didn’t receive a custodial sentence
  • It’s your only offence

Offences involving violence, sexual offences, and certain other serious matters can never be filtered and will always appear on enhanced DBS checks, even after they’re spent. This protects vulnerable groups from those who may pose a risk.

Mistakes People Often Make

Let’s clear up some confusion that trips people up:

Thinking “spent” means “deleted”
Your conviction isn’t erased from police records when it becomes spent. It’s still there on the Police National Computer. What changes is your legal obligation to disclose it in most situations. For certain roles requiring enhanced checks, it will still be visible.
Confusing conviction date with sentence completion date
For custodial sentences, the rehabilitation period starts when you’ve finished serving the entire sentence, including time on licence. Many people mistakenly count from their conviction date, which gives them an incorrect result that’s too optimistic.
Not declaring because “it’s spent”
If the application specifically asks about spent convictions (and the role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act), you must still declare them. Failing to do so can be grounds for dismissal and, in regulated professions, could constitute an offence.
Assuming all sentences over 4 years never become spent
Custodial sentences over 4 years that aren’t for Schedule 18 offences do become spent – after 7 years for adults or 42 months for young offenders. Only sentences over 4 years for serious violent or sexual offences (Schedule 18), life sentences, and certain public protection sentences never become spent.

Getting Official Records

If you’re unsure about the details of your conviction, you can request your official police records. This is called a “Subject Access Request” and the police must provide this within one month. You’ll need to apply to the police force that holds your records – usually the force in the area where you were convicted or live now.

The record will show all your convictions, cautions, warnings, and reprimands, along with dates and sentence details. This makes it much easier to use calculators like this one accurately, especially if your conviction was some years ago and you can’t remember exact details.

References

  • Ministry of Justice (2023). Rehabilitation Periods. GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rehabilitation-periods (Accessed: December 2025)
  • Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended). UK Public General Acts. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/53
  • Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. UK Public General Acts. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/32
  • Home Office (2023). Criminal Records Reform: Rehabilitation Periods Guidance. London: HM Government
  • Disclosure and Barring Service (2023). DBS Filtering Guide. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-filtering-guidance
  • Unlock (2024). About the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Available at: https://unlock.org.uk/advice/the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974/

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