Lynn Ruane (Independent)

Regarding the expungement of convictions, it is sometimes an uncomfortable conversation for people to have when we think about cases of say ten-, 11- or 12-year olds who have potentially taken a life. Other convictions will come off a person's record if they do not reoffend on release. As Ms Gomez said, children have greater chances of rehabilitation. However, in certain categories of crimes, even if that was a person's only crime, it is actually never addressed from the perspective of the conviction.

Even though we say that rehabilitation may happen, it will still stay on someone's record for the rest of his or her life. That person will never be able to go into certain careers, or there is certain travel he or she will never be able to do because it stays within that category. Yet, we are recognising the very unique situation of a child's development and his or her ability to rehabilitate and not reoffend. Was that a conversation at all?