New draft law will allow ex-cons to expunge criminal records

A new draft law will allow people who have been convicted of a crime and served their sentence to wipe the slate clean and start again.

In the past ex-cons have found it difficult to find gainful employment after serving their sentence and as a consequence have gone on to reoffend. But if this new bill is passed it will change all that.

Chawalit Wichayasut, a Pheu Thai Party MP for Nakhon Phanom in his capacity as vice-chairman of the House committee on justice and human rights, acknowledged the legislative proposal is aimed at improving opportunities for those seeking new employment after having their criminal records expunged.

A Royal Thai Police official at the committee meeting to discuss the bill yesterday revealed there are about 12 million people who have a criminal record, 150,000 of whom are criminal suspects who haven’t been incriminated or acquitted.

The House committee yesterday agreed in principle that these people deserve to have their criminal records erased from every police database.

Chawalit added that those who have been found not guilty or already served their sentences deserve to have rights equal to other people under Section 28 of the constitution.

Assoc Prof Yuttaporn Issarachai, a lecturer at the School of Political Science of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, says this proposed bill is crucial to ensure justice as criminal records affect the lives of people who have been acquitted or completed their sentences.

The bill is expected to be introduced in September.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post