Apr 2, 2025
In New Zealand’s justice system, a discharge without conviction offers an important alternative to a formal criminal record for certain offences. This legal mechanism allows courts to acknowledge that while an individual has been found guilty or has pleaded guilty, they are not formally convicted. By doing so, the court recognises that for minor or first-time offences, the long-term consequences of a conviction might be unduly harsh compared to the offence committed.
