Editing Criminal record (section)

==Ireland==
The criminal record system for [[Ireland]] exists in the form an information database system which is held by the [[Garda_Síochána|Garda]] Criminal Records Office as part of the Garda Síochána (the national police force). The information is owned and maintained by the Gardaí as part of their main function in tackling crime and protecting civilians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.garda.ie/controller.aspx?Page=1548 |title=National Vetting Bureau – An Garda Síochána – Ireland's National Police Service |website=Garda.ie |access-date=7 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921011554/http://www.garda.ie/controller.aspx?Page=1548 |archive-date=21 September 2016 }}</ref>

The data held by the Gardaí is not openly available to the public. However, section 4 of the Data Protection Act allows individuals to make a formal request in writing to the Garda Criminal Records Office to access personal data held about them. In making this formal request, individuals must provide sufficient information to establish their identity and ensure that the Gardaí is both able to locate their file and make certain that the personal data is being given to the right person. Sufficient information would include: full name, correct date of birth, any other names used, current address and previous addresses in Ireland, a copy of your passport, driving licence or birth certificate and a fee of €6.35.<ref name="citizensinformation.ie">{{cite web|url=http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/law_and_rights/access_to_garda_records.html |title=Access to Garda records |website=Citizensinformation.ie |date=23 May 2016 |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref>

Additionally, a third party may also be able to access your personal data on your behalf. However, this requires that the third party satisfy the Gardaí of their identity and that the individual provides written authorization to allow the third party to make this request.<ref name="citizensinformation.ie"/>

In Ireland, criminal convictions remain on the criminal record system for life if the offence was committed after the individual turned 18, as there are currently no legislative provisions which provide for the expungement of criminal convictions. Ireland remains the only country in the EU and one of the only countries in the Council of Europe area to not have such legislation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iprt.ie/spent-convictions |title=Spent Convictions &#124; Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) |website=Iprt.ie |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref>

However, under Section 258 of the Children Act 2001, offences committed by those under eighteen years of age can be expunged from the record once certain conditions are met:
where a person has been found guilty of an offence and:
* the offence was committed before they reached the age of eighteen years
* the offence is not one required to be tried by the Central Criminal Court (such as murder or rape)
* three years have elapsed since the conviction, and
* the person has not been dealt with for another offence in that three-year period
then that person will be treated as a person who has not committed or been charged with or prosecuted for or found guilty of or dealt with for that offence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iprt.ie/contents/2335 |title=Spent Convictions Scheme for offences committed aged under 18 &#124; Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) |website=Iprt.ie |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref>

;Registering of sex offenders

There is no official sex offender registry in Ireland.
However, under the Sex Offenders Act 2001 which came into force in June 2001, an unofficial registry exists and is held centrally by the Gardaí. The location of sex offenders in Ireland is provided by a certificate issued by the court, stating that the convicted person is subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 and is now obliged to provide certain information including their name and address to the Gardaí. Therefore, this certificate system is commonly referred to as the Sex Offenders Register, as it allows the details of all sex offenders subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 to be held centrally by the Gardaí.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/criminal_law/criminal_trial/sex_offenders_register.html |title=Sex Offenders Register |website=Citizensinformation.ie |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref>