[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I didn't quote and wasn't "lecturing" you, Kizzy, I was quoting and agreeing with Dezzy who was quoting a suggestion that anyone who breaks the law must "pay for the rest of their lives".

I know your names are similar so I understand the confusion.

For what it's worth, it actually does irk me, slightly, that prisoners get to learn skills and trades "for free" that aren't easy to access for young people in everyday life either through lack of places or simply because they can't afford the tuition fees. It seems completely wrong that someone can go to jail for 5 years and come out more skilled and more employable (often with the possibility of self employment) than someone who has been slogging away in something low paid like a retail job for 5 years. I'm just not sure what the alternative is.

I was fully aware you weren't speaking to me personally, there was no confusion.
My response was to the concept of offenders being treated like outcasts this hasn't been the case for many years since the rehabilitation of offenders act 1974.

https://www.gov.uk/exoffenders-and-employment

What counts as a spent conviction
Convictions with a sentence of 4 years or less will become spent after a certain period of time. This is known as a ‘rehabilitation period’. Its length depends on how severe the penalty was.

Rehabilitation periods

Custodial sentence Rehabilitation period (from end of sentence)
0 - 6 months 2 years
6 - 30 months 4 years
30 months - 4 years 7 years
more than 4 years never

Therefore if he comes out at 23 fully trained then by 30 the offence is wiped and he no longer has to declare it to employers anyway.