HOW TO APPLY FOR THE EXPUNGMENT OF A CRIMINAL RECORD

Application Forms are available at the Customer Service Desk, Ministry of National Security, Charlotte House, Shirley Street, Nassau Bahamas, and also by clicking here

Please read the following carefully before completing the Application Forms

Step 1

Complete Two (2) Application Forms to include the names, addresses and contact information of  the applicant Two (2) references who are NOT Family Members providing recommendations for expungent of the applicant’s Police Record.

Step 2

The Two (2) completed Application Forms MUST be submitted to the Customer Service Desk, Ministry of National Security, Charlotte House and Shirley Street Nassau Bahamas; along with the following:

1. Government Photo Identification
2. Two (2) recent passport photos
3. Current Police record
4. Fingerprints impression of Applicant
5. Receipt from the Inland Revenue Department (Tax Office) for the processing of an application
6. Two (2) Letters of recommendation addressed to (Rehabilitation of Offenders Committee) c/o Ministry of National Security
7. Any other document in support of the Application.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Fingerprint Impressions can be done at the Criminal Records Office located at University Boulevard or at any Police Station which must be stamped and certified.
• To obtain the Receipt for the processing of an application the applicant is required to make a payment of Fifty B($50.00) Dollars at Inland Revenue Department (Tax Office) situated at Carmichael Road.
• The Letters of Recommendation can be typed or handwritten (If handwritten, they should be legible) an MUST be dated, signed, have a return address, phone number and include the following information:
  1. How long the referee has known the applicant
  2. How the applicant conducts himself/herself
  3. Whether the Referee would recommend that the applicant’s conviction(s) be expunged.
• Referees providing the recommendations MUST be of unquestionable integrity.  These persons may include Ministers of Religion, Justices of the Peace, Principals, Teachers, Attorneys-at-Law, Medical Practitioners and Police Officers of a Gazetted Rank

THE PROCESS:

Step 1

• Upon receipt of the two (2) application forms along with the supporting documents, a Police Antecedent Report will be requested from the Criminal Records Department.

Step 2

• A report from the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services outlining the applicant’s history at the facility;

Step 3

• A Social Inquiry report is requested from the Department of Social Services with an opinion on whether or not the applicants should be considered for the expungent of his/her record
• Upon receipt of the Police Report and the other documents, a review of the application will be made by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Committee (The Committee reserves the right to interview the applicant in person) and a decision taken.  The applicant will then be advised of the decision in writing within two (2) weeks of consideration of the application.
• If an applicant require a  CLEAN POLICE RECORD after his/her criminal record has been expunged on the advice of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Committee he/she MUST PAY the fees required by Criminal records Office for the new Police Record.

For any additional information, please contact the Ministry of National Security, Rehabilitation of Offender’s Customer Service Desk at  (242) 5023300 or 3566752/3