steps to take when applying for expungement
1 Complete an application form in duplicate
Download and print two (2) application forms from the Ministry of Justice’s website ( moj.gov.jm) or collect them at the ministry’s head office at 61 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10. To complete the form, applicants will need to provide names, addresses and contact numbers for two referees and two other persons who can be contacted on their behalf.
2 Get two letters of recommendation
Applicants should obtain two (2) letters of recommendation addressed to the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Board, typed or handwritten, and they must include:
a. How long the referee has known the applicant,
b. How the applicant conducts himself/herself,
c. Whether the referee recommends that the applicant’s conviction(s) be expunged.
Referees may include ministers of religion, justices of the peace, principals, teachers, attorneys-at-law, medical practitioners and police officers of senior ranks. Referees must not be family members.
3 Obtain receipt for processing application
To obtain the receipt for the processing of the application, the applicant is required to pay the prescribed fee of (J$3,000) at any inland revenue department location, that is, any tax office.
4 Get fingerprint impressions
After completing the payment and collecting the receipt stating it is for the expungement service, applicants will need to visit a criminal records office to be fingerprinted. These are located at
• 56 Duke Street, Kingston;
• The Summit Police Station (St James);
• The May Pen Police Station (Clarendon); or
• The Area 2 Police Headquarters, Pompano Bay (St Mary).
5 Submit completed applications
The Secretary, Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Board, Ministry of Justice, 61 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10
An application for expungement is considered complete when it is submitted along with two (2) completed applications forms, the receipt indicating payment for the expungement service, two recommendation letters and the fingerprint impression from the Criminal Records Office.
NB: No incomplete applications will be accepted.