House Passes Bill to Expunge Records for Minor Offences

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday September 30, passed the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Act, paving the way for the removal of criminal records against the names of persons convicted for possession of, or smoking small quantities of ganja.

The Bill also removes the additional rehabilitation period prescribed in the Act (1988) and adjusts the rehabilitation period prescribed in the Act. It further provides for expungement of criminal records for other minor offences.

Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, said the passage of the legislation, will enable thousands of Jamaicans to access gainful employment because their criminal records will be expunged.

“We are talking about the thousands and thousands of Jamaicans… as with a criminal record, there are many jobs they cannot get and many countries they cannot visit,” he stated.

Mr. Bunting said the next step by the Government is to make the possession of small quantities of ganja a non-arrestable offence.

He noted that focus is also being placed on making provisions for the use of ganja by religious groups. “This Bill that will deal with that second step has already been drafted. It will go to legislative committee for some final tweaking,” he stated.

The Security Minister also informed that Cabinet has approved a regulatory framework to oversee the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Minister Bunting told the House that despite the changes being made, the Government will continue to enforce the law and obligations under various international treaties.

The Bill was passed in the Senate in July, 2014.