Gov’t to Appoint Nine-Member Criminal Expungement Board

The membership of the Criminal Expungement Board will be revised to reflect changes introduced under the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Act, 2026.

“Instead of three to five members, the Act now requires that the Board is comprised of seven to nine members. It is our intention to appoint nine members to allow for greater efficiencies and a greater cross-section of representation,” said Minister of Justice and Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Delroy Chuck.

Speaking during Wednesday’s (March 4) post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House, he emphasised that the Bill does not weaken existing safeguards.

The Justice Minister explained that the Bill carefully balances the need for rehabilitated individuals to reintegrate into society with the imperative of protecting public safety.

“Rehabilitation is a cornerstone of justice. When individuals have served their sentence, demonstrated reform and lived law-abiding lives for many years, they should not be indefinitely burdened by past mistakes,” Mr. Chuck said.

He advised that both the regime and the Act remain under constant review, and expressed the Government’s hope that, as crime and criminality across Jamaica trend downward, the law can be further liberalised in the future.

“I make this point because it is important to recognise that we came under significant pressure to remove other offences from the Third Schedule and to allow, for example, persons who have been convicted decades ago for illegal possession of firearms, use of firearms, robbery and shooting with intent [to apply for expungement] even though it was committed 30 to 40 years ago.

“In the present atmosphere where guns are used to commit many crimes… to kill – over 75 per cent of our murders in Jamaica are committed with the use of an illegal gun – it would be inappropriate at this time to expunge any offence where a firearm is involved,” Mr. Chuck explained.

He added that the Government remains committed to ensuring Jamaica’s criminal justice system promotes not only punishment where necessary but also meaningful rehabilitation and reintegration.