Disclosing your convictions

Any organisation offering you a job, education or volunteering can ask about your convictions. 

Usually you’ll only have to disclose unspent convictions. There are some spent convictions which have to be disclosed on higher level disclosures.

Before an organisation asks about your previous convictions, they should tell you:

• what you legally need to disclose

• where you can get advice about disclosing

How to disclose your convictions 

Most organisations who support people with convictions recommend using a ‘letter of disclosure’. In this letter you explain:

• why you want to disclose your convictions

• the nature of your convictions and the sentences you got

• the circumstances that led to your convictions

• changes you’ve made in your life since  your conviction, like education

• why they should consider you for the position 

View a guide with examples of disclosure letters.

You can also disclose your convictions: 

• on your CV 

• on a job application form 

• at an interview 

• when you’re offered a job 

If an employer asks about your convictions when you apply for a job, you can send a letter of disclosure with your application form or CV. If they do not ask you about your convictions until after an interview, you could provide the letter then.

How to find out if you have unspent convictions 

You can find out if you have unspent convictions by:

• Making a Subject Access Request to Police Scotland. Police Scotland must respond to your request within one month. The information they give you will show all your convictions, both spent and unspent

• applying for a basic disclosure certificate. This will show your unspent convictions