On the 28th of January, Nacro and Lord Blunkett hosted a parliamentary reception at the House of Lords to mark 50 years of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. The event was a significant moment to reflect on the impact of this landmark legislation and the continued need for reform to support people with criminal records in rebuilding their lives.
The audience heard from speaker, Nick Hardwick, Nacro’s chair of the Board of Trustees and former chair of the Parole Board for England and Wales. He was joined by colleagues across the criminal justice sector, business, and government to hear about the impact of the act and what now needs to change.
Two members of the Justice ExChange spoke at the event and shared their personal experiences, highlighting the real-world impact of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act but also what now needs to change to ensure the Act is fair. Their testimonies emphasised the importance of policies to enable individuals to access opportunities without being held back by their past.
Ever since playing a major role in the ROA being introduced 50 years ago, as an organisation Nacro have been a longstanding supporter of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and continues to push for necessary updates and amendments to ensure it remains relevant and effective in the future.