Would you trust someone with these convictions?

[goodbyeyellowbrick]

Would you trust a female who at age 17 got these two convictions -

• breach of the peace domestic
• assault to injury domestic

And then at 19 got these two convictions -

• communications act domestic
• drink driving

Would you trust her? She is 30 now and has had no issues with the law since and has seemed to turn her life around. Would you still think she was the same person though inherently?

If she has trained as a social worker then she will have had to declare her convictions when applying for her social work course. Her fitness to practice would have been considered at that point in time, and she has evidently been considered fit to work as a social worker.

I'm not sure it's anyone on MN's place to judge her when she has already been judged and found fit.

It would depend on why I was considering trusting her.

The convictions happened over ten years ago and she’s been ‘clean’ since. I don’t know what ‘communications act domestic’ is, better her experience will make her a better social worker. She’s paid her dues, and shouldn’t be penalised for the rest of her life.

@Californiabakes

I know a social worker who is on a life licence, so much more serious offence. The convictions will come up on every check and she will have to explain herself but its not a bar to working as a social worker per se.

They were sentenced to life imprisonment, had an early release and now working as a social work?

@poppycat10 privilege where? I’m your average early 20 year old that hasn’t had the best start to adult life, with thanks to the pandemic and it’s ramifications elsewhere. However I’m not driving around drunk or getting into fights, as my moral code wouldn’t allow me to. We all go through things but we don’t all lash out like this.

Where are you even getting double standards from? I didn't comment on gender, you did. Weird take as I would trust a man even less.

Yes and yes, especially since they're situational and a long time ago.

Yes. The convictions must be spent by now. Everyone deserves a second chance. We've all done things we aren't proud of. I am sure she isn't proud of what she did as a young person.

@Derrymum123

Yes. The convictions must be spent by now. Everyone deserves a second chance. We've all done things we aren't proud of. I am sure she isn't proud of what she did as a young person.

In this instance yes But I absolutely disagree everyone deserves a second chance

Rape?
Murder of someone entirely innocent, a child?

Nope. No second chance. No forgiveness.

@Derrymum123

Yes. The convictions must be spent by now. Everyone deserves a second chance. We've all done things we aren't proud of. I am sure she isn't proud of what she did as a young person.

That depends on the job, some jobs (such as social work) needs declaration of convictions that would normally be considered to be spent.

• But it’s fact most people don’t have any involvement with the police in their teens!*

That however is not because of lack of behaviour, it's mostly because they're not caught/charges pressed or for lack of "opportunity ". If no one starts a fight with you or hits you, it's less likely you'll have the need to defend yourself. If you're not in an abusive/toxic relationship there's no reason for the police to be called for a domestic. If you never go drinking in the park or wherever with your mates, there's no reason for the public to be "disturbed". And so on.

If it isn't you, then why are you asking?

I'm not sure I would. But I don't trust many people in general.

If she has had no issues from age 19 and is now 30 then I would assume she has grown up. Drink driving is awful but the others I would also wonder if she was in a bad place. It doesn’t make it ok but teenagers do stupid stuff and can grow up and become a responsible adult

I've screwed up a lot in my own life so not one who would auto-condemn.

Yes to her being a social worker, people with life experiences like that can bring breadth of character to the job. She'll relate a little easier is she's not got a 'perfect' back record. Remember not the sins of my youth.

Yes I would trust her as a social worker and would feel she has a better background than many others to to have the empathy to understand and relate to what other go through.

Would I have trusted her at the age of 20? Almost certainly not but a decade later shows some people can turn their lives around.

Trust her how?

Meet with her for an hour and then decide she can be my child’s nanny? No. All I have there is that interview, some references that may or may not be true, and that perfect record it’s terrifying in the best of circumstances.

Meet at knitting class and decide to get coffee? Of course. After spending time getting to know her over a few months, then ask her to watch my child for an afternoon? Absolutely.

I was convicted of ABH when I was 21.
I was on a night out and a man assaulted me. I used more than reasonable force in retaliation and admitted guilt right away.

I believe myself to be a trustworthy person.

I am 30.

I work in HR in education. These convictions would not stop a teacher getting a job - I've seen 'worse' and more 'recent' in terms of being convicted after the age of 19.

The posters saying they wouldn't allow this person to look after their DC are blissfully ignorant this could be one of their DC's teachers and they'd never know and convictions are not disclosed to parents or other staff.

Yes, she hasn't done anything illegal for over 11 years.

Would you trust a female who at age 17 got these two convictions -

- breach of the peace domestic
- assault to injury domestic

And then at 19 got these two convictions -

- communications act domestic
- drink driving

Why include the 'female' would it make a difference if they were male?

Generally I'd make my decision on who I thought they were now. Some people change, some people don't.

Difficult to call, I agree teenagers can do daft things, but I would be concerned about the character strait, I have brought up two DS’ they know right from wrong and have never put a foot wrong,

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act these convictions aren't declarable so why would anyone know?

Yes. With a degree of caution, but yes, I'd be very happy to give them a chance.

I was a dick from 14-19. Not a dick that got arrested, but a dick that I wouldn't want to spend much time with now I'm nearly 30, and whose behaviour I'm pretty embarrassed by these days. People can change dramatically in that time, and I'd hate to think anyone would judge me based on my behaviour as a teenager.

@Karatema

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act these convictions aren't declarable so why would anyone know?

Yes they are on an enhanced DBS which you would need to be a SW.

It’s hard to say. I know someone in a very similar position, two convictions for what I’d describe as minor offences that happened a long time ago.

They haven’t been in trouble since (that they’ve been caught) but their judgement and boundaries are still poor. They haven’t had a lightbulb moment and gone ‘right I’m going to make something of my life’. I wouldn’t be comfortable with my kids having them as role models over a long period of time. Their idea of what is...normal family life, is very skewed.

On the other hand I know someone with a much more serious offence on their record. Who avoided prison and decided to change their life. Made something of themselves, own house, qualifications...they used it as an opportunity to better themselves. I absolutely would have them as role models. They have no intention of ever screwing up again.

It’s not about the record per se. It’s the bit that comes after that. To knowingly pursue education and a career in a system that is going to ask you to own your mistakes I think says something about character. It says to me; I want to help people to not make my mistakes.