These offenses include a first offence for possession of cannabis and a first offence for any COVID-19 related offence - which caught many otherwise law abiding persons. The chairman of the board, Leslie Hamilton spoke with us today via Zoom to explain why they've agreed to implement an automatic expungement for these offenses.

Leslie Hamilton, Chairman, Criminal Records Board
"That is in respect to specific offenses under section 7 of the misuse of drugs act. The expungement for petty ones that is below 60 grams of cannabis that is legally known as possession simplicita, those are the offenses under the drugs act meaning that they are for use by the accused person the defendant at the time."

"The other offenses in relation to the Covid 19 related offenses the wearing of mask and being out when you are not suppose to be out yes the expungement act does cover those offenses."

"The wisdom of it is that these offenses as it is they are petty offenses and at times they serve as obstacles to the convicted person or persons to be able to seek meaningful employment. So it's a way of giving these persons a second chance of seeking meaningful employment. A second chance of being productive in the society."

"There is a substantial amount of these offenses there are people who may be serving time for these petty offenses who might would like to get these offenses off the record so yes there is a substantial amount."

"I would only encourage these persons with these convictions to pickup the application forms as soon as possible, get them filled out and submitted to the proper office that's the criminal expungement board. As soon as they get it done they will hear from the board."

Those who seek to have these offenses expunged can access the application forms at the criminal records board or at the magistrates court.