Sentences with convictions of 5-10 years will be removed after three years (down from five) those with a conviction of 1-5 years will be removed after two years (down from three), those with a conviction of 6-12 months will be removed after six months (down from a year), and those with a conviction of under six months will be removed after three months (down from a year).

Sentences for simple possession of drugs for personal use and other offences that have been decriminalised can be removed immediately.

However, expungement won’t apply for certain crimes – namely crimes against humanity, recidivism in theft, recidivism in fraud, recidivism in drug trafficking, crimes against government security, slander, and perjury.

While waiting for their police conduct to be scrubbed clean, former prisoners will also be able to apply for a supplemental certificate of good conduct up to a month after completing their sentence. This will detail the programmes they participated in during their time in prison and provide an account of their behaviour in Kordin.

This supplemental certificate will automatically be revoked if the individual is found guilty of another crime.

“It is a shame that reformed former prisoners still find closed doors when they try to reintegrate into society,” Justice Minister Jonathan Attard said. “At the same time, we want to safeguard the general interests of society against certain serious crimes and people who persist in crime.”

However, he warned that the reforms will only work if employers, banks and other institutions, update their internal systems in line with the spirit of the reform.

This proposed reform is currently open for public consultation, a process that will last until 29th May.

Do you agree with this proposal?