When an individual goes to court and is found guilty of an
offence the Magistrate or Judge hearing the matter can record a
criminal conviction against that individual's name. The
conviction will be recorded on the individual's criminal record
for life.
A common question we hear as criminal lawyers is who will know
what is on my criminal record. The most common way criminal records
can be accessed is through a National Police Check which is
required for certain types of employment such as work in the
government sector.
It is important to understand that not everything on an
individual's criminal record will be disclosed. The
Criminal Records Act 1991 (the Act) governs what does and what
does not show up on a criminal history check.
