September 14, 2026
No backlog of expungement cases in Jamaica
Written bySugar Ray Thomas
There’s no backlog of expungement cases in Jamaica.
That’s according to Justice Minister Delroy Chuck who provided the update at the Judiciary’s Eastern Region Assize Church Service at the East Queen Street Baptist Church.
Expungement refers to the legal process of removing past conviction from a criminal or police record.
Passed in February 2026, the amended Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act broadens eligibility for criminal record expungement.
According to Mr. Chuck, the number of persons appointed to the Criminal Records Board was increased to speed up expungement applications.
The Minister explained that expungement is another mechanism that should encourage accused persons to plead guilty to their offences.
