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Question Details: A friend has been convicted of a sexual offence and has completed his sentence. We are aware that he won't be able to travel overseas for some time. How long is that period?
Filed under Criminal Law | 1310 View(s)
Community Law Wellington & Hutt Valley
There is no set period. Whether your friend can travel overseas after being convicted of a sexual offence will depend on the terms of their sentence and the laws of the country they intend to travel to.
Specifically, whether your friend will be permitted to enter other countries with his sexual offence conviction (either now, or at some later time) will depend on the laws of each particular country.
The Clean Slate Act will not apply to hide your friend's conviction when he tries to travel overseas, as it only applies within New Zealand (and it might not apply to your friend anyway - for example, if he went to prison). Your friend will need to disclose the conviction if requested by another country, and he is likely to breach the country's entry requirements if he lies or refuses to disclose this conviction. For more information on the application of the Clean Slate Act, see here: www.communitylaw.org.nz
You also indicate that your friend has completed his sentence. However, if your friend is still on parole, he may be subject to parole conditions that prevent him from leaving the country.
Answered 11 Apr 2013. The IMPORTANT NOTICE below is part of this answer.
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