* The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (ROA) is legislation that was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom which created the system of spent and unspent convictions. The act applies to offenders in England, Scotland and Wales. These laws were designed to help people avoid a permanent criminal record for minor offences and minimise ex-offender employment discrimination. This act contains all the provisions for spent and unspent convictions, including eligibility, time frames, and the specific allowances for each type of infraction.
