Chuck hails criminal records reform as new expungement law takes effect

The new Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Amendment Act, 2026, which introduces sweeping reforms aimed at giving rehabilitated Jamaicans a meaningful second chance, including provisions for automatic expungement in certain cases, has now taken effect.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing today, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck confirmed that the legislation was signed by the Governor-General on February 20 and subsequently gazette.

He explained that the amended Act establishes a two-stage framework for addressing the criminal records of rehabilitated persons.

“The first stage provides that upon the expiration of the prescribed rehabilitation period, a qualifying conviction is automatically treated as spent and the individual is regarded in law as a rehabilitated person,” Chuck said.

The minister said expungement will not prejudice the interests of justice or national security.

“The second stage permits the rehabilitated person to apply to the Criminal Records Rehabilitation of Offenders Board for the expungement of the spent conviction from his or her criminal record,” he added, noting that the board must conduct its own inquiries and be satisfied that the applicant has been rehabilitated.

However, the minister also pointed to an additional significant reform — automatic expungement in certain older, non-custodial matters.

“The Act also provides for the automatic expungement of certain non-custodial convictions where the sentence was imposed and completed prior to January 1, 2005, and the individual has not been convicted of another offence,” Chuck stated.

He further explained, “In cases where a person has been convicted of a single offence and, in the judgment of the court, the seriousness and circumstances of the offence did not warrant imprisonment, and where the sentence was completed prior to January 1, 2005, a worthwhile concession is being made.”

“In such cases, and in the spirit of affording a genuine second chance, the individual automatically benefits from expungement without being required to undergo the application process,” the minister said.

Chuck reiterated that the Government has long recognised the importance of expungement in enabling rehabilitated persons to reintegrate into society.

“Access to employment, professional licensing, educational opportunities and international travel may all be adversely affected by the existence of a criminal record,” he said.

Chuck said the bill does not weaken safeguards but carefully balances the need of rehabilitated individuals to reintegrate into society with the need to protect public safety.

“Persons who have paid their debt to society and have demonstrably benefited from reform and rehabilitation should, in appropriate cases, be afforded the opportunity to move forward without the enduring stigma of a criminal record,” the minister said.

Among other reforms, offences under the Dangerous Drugs Act are now eligible for expungement once there has been no further interaction with the law, and Jamaicans who committed offences abroad may also qualify for expungement locally under the new law.

Describing the legislation as “one of the most liberal reform Acts in the region,” Chuck added that as crime and violence continue to trend downward, further improvements to the framework may be considered, while stressing the need to significantly reduce gun-related offences across the island.

- Andre Williams

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