Can I Get a Certificate of Conduct with a Criminal Record?

The short answer

A criminal record does not automatically mean you won't get a Certificate of Conduct. Justis looks at the specific circumstances of each application. They assess whether your past poses a risk to the position or activity for which you need the Certificate of Conduct. Minor offenses or old convictions usually don't have to be a problem. It's mainly about relevance: a past theft could cause problems for a retail job, but maybe not for other work.

What does the law say?

The Certificate of Conduct is regulated by the Judicial and Criminal Records Data Act. This law stipulates that Justis must make a risk assessment between your past and the position for which you are applying for the Certificate of Conduct. Not all antecedents are relevant for every position. The law gives Justis the flexibility to provide customized solutions and not automatically refuse based on every criminal record.

What should you pay attention to?

The type of offense plays a major role in the assessment. Violent offenses are problematic for jobs with children, but financial offenses for jobs handling money. The time elapsed since your conviction is also important - the longer ago, the better. Be sure to be honest in your application, as lying is always discovered.

Example from practice

Suppose you were convicted of shoplifting 8 years ago and are now applying for a job as a teacher. The chances are good that you will get the Certificate of Conduct, as theft is not directly relevant to teaching and it was a long time ago. However, if you had a conviction for violence against a minor 2 years ago, a Certificate of Conduct for education would almost certainly be refused. The relevance between your past and your future position is therefore crucial.

What can you do?

Start with a free online check on the Justis website to see what is recorded about you. Then apply for your Certificate of Conduct through the official channels and be completely honest about your past.