england-and-wales legal-terms definition
What&#39;s the difference between a conviction that is spent and one that is expunged?
<p>This came up in the comments thread of <a href="https://law.stackexchange.com/a/79770/35069">this question</a> so it was suggested to ask it.</p>

<p><strong>Spent</strong> means the sentence etc has been served and, under certain conditions, one need not disclose one's criminal history as they are deemed rehabilitated. See the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/53/contents" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974</a> and <a href="https://www.nacro.org.uk/criminal-record-support-service/support-for-individuals/disclosing-criminal-records/disclosing-criminal-records-employers/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">NARCO</a>:</p>
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<p>Once a conviction, caution, reprimand or final warning becomes spent, you do not need to disclose it to most employers, or when applying for most courses, insurance or other purposes (e.g. applying for housing)...</p>
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<p><strong>Expunged</strong> means the conviction etc has been quashed as though it never existed. The <a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/expunge" rel="nofollow noreferrer">online OED</a> defines it as:</p>
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<p>Obliterate or remove completely (something unwanted or unpleasant)</p>
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<p>Note that the term used by in legislation is <strong>Quash[ed]</strong>, as per <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/19/section/2?timeline=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">section 2(2)</a> of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968:</p>
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<p>In the case of an appeal against conviction the Court shall, if they allow the appeal, quash the conviction.</p>
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