Whether a conviction is spent or unspent affects what appears on a DBS check and what the applicant must disclose in different situations.
You need to understand:
What “spent” and “unspent” convictions mean
How a conviction changes from unspent to spent
Where to find the official rehabilitation periods
Key Difference: Spent vs Unspent Convictions
Unspent convictions
A conviction or caution is unspent from the date it is given.
It remains unspent for a set rehabilitation period.
While it is unspent:
It will normally appear on a Basic DBS Check.
The person may need to disclose it in certain circumstances (for example, to employers requesting a Basic check).
Spent convictions
A conviction or caution becomes spent once the rehabilitation period has passed.
After it is spent:
It will no longer appear on a Basic DBS Check.
In many situations, the person is treated as if they had not committed that offence (subject to exceptions for higher-level checks and exempted roles).
How a Conviction Becomes Spent
Eligible convictions or cautions become spent after a specified period of time.
This rehabilitation period:
Varies depending on:
The type of disposal (for example, caution, fine, community order, custodial sentence), and
The length of the sentence imposed.
General rules:
Shorter or less serious disposals usually have shorter rehabilitation periods.
Longer or more serious sentences usually have longer rehabilitation periods, and some may never become spent (depending on the law).
Until the full rehabilitation period has passed:
The conviction or caution remains unspent.
Where You Find the Rehabilitation Periods
You can see:
A list of rehabilitation periods for the most common sentences and disposals, and
Example scenarios showing how they work in practice,
by referring to the official guidance provided in the link mentioned in your documentation.
Use that resource when you need to:
Work out whether a specific conviction or caution is currently spent or unspent, and
Understand how long it will take to become spent based on the type and length of sentence.