Offenders
Justice
Edward Garnier (Shadow Minister, Justice; Harborough, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many former prisoners are employed by his Department; and what his Department's policy is on employing former prisoners.
David Hanson (Minister of State, Ministry of Justice; Delyn, Labour)
In the Ministry of Justice, figures are not held for former prisoners now employed by the Ministry of Justice. The policy on employment of ex-offenders recognises the important role that access to employment opportunities can have in the rehabilitation process for ex-offenders and in reducing re-offending. The Ministry will consider ex-offenders on their individual merits. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual working for the Ministry. This will depend on several considerations including:
The nature and seriousness of the offence
The relevance of the conviction i.e. the possibility of impetuosity of youth or immaturity and consideration that the individual's circumstances or character may have altered since to the extent that the conviction will not now be significant
The nature of the work and location