Defense Attorneys Say Expungement Law Is a Step Forward but Needs Improvement

The Association of Defence Attorneys (ADA) says that the law allowing for criminal records to be expunged is a progressive step for Belize, but the process needs work. This week, President of the ADA Dickie Bradley, commended the Government of Belize for enacting the legislation and criticized the lack of knowledge provided to the public. He explained that people who have outstanding fines for COVID-related convictions, as a first offence, no longer need to pay those fines. Those convicted of small amounts of marijuana on a first offense will also be able to clear their records; however, Bradley says that the application form is unnecessarily long. 

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney: “Anybody out there because of the other day a lady frantic at the court, anybody out there, thanks for bringing this up, anybody out there who owe the court for COVID, the debt is paid. Like what Barabas said about Jesus, the debt has been paid. They need to bear in mind that what the law is saying is that if you had previous convictions don’t come when you have dirty hands, only clean hands are required. So for COVID you would have to not have any previous convictions to say I don’t owe the court anymore. Because when we started out and we knew so little about COVID, this frightening sickness that had come upon us the next time Ai will be able to tell you “Don’t knock yourself out the serosi you have and the marijuana that you’re smoking you’re clear you don’t have to worry about it.” But we’re not there yet. So yes in relation to COVID that is great. It is the law that if you have been convicted of minor amounts of marijuana you can apply and have it convicted. Now this is my little problem. The form to apply for expungement it can be shorted, it’s three pages and it’s asking things that you don’t need to know. They want to know why you want to take it off your record. That is not their business. I want it to come off you understand. And other things that they don’t need. The want one little form that you can fill out “This is my name, this is where I live, this is the offense for which I was convicted, this is the time I was convicted.” In fact you go to court and you get a copy of your record. Two little pages and now they’re also telling people that it will take at least there months for you to get it and that three months has caught up with a number of persons because they wanted to get into America before Donald Trump got into office.”

The expungement of criminal records was made possible through the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act, 2024, which came into effect on November 29, 2024. The review process for expungement is overseen by the Criminal Expungement Board.