Criminal Records (Clean Slate) (Additional Eligibility) Amendment Bill
The bill would extend the clean slate scheme to some people who have remained offence-free for 10 years after serving a custodial sentence of less than 12 months for a category 2 offence or completing a mandatory driving disqualification.
- Closing date
- 3 September 2026
- Added to Civics
- 24 July 2026
- Source category
- Parliamentary
- Source body
- Justice Committee
- Last checked
- 24 July 2026
Closes in 41 days
Plain-English summary
The Criminal Records (Clean Slate) (Additional Eligibility) Amendment Bill would expand the scheme beyond people who have never received a custodial sentence. It would cover certain people who have completed a 10-year rehabilitation period without reoffending after a custodial sentence of less than 12 months for a category 2 offence.
The same 10-year pathway would apply to people currently excluded because they were subject to mandatory disqualification from driving for repeat offences. The Justice Committee is seeking views on whether those thresholds strike an appropriate balance between rehabilitation, public safety and access to criminal-record information.
Why it matters
Clean slate eligibility can affect access to employment, housing, travel and participation in community life.
The proposal must balance rehabilitation and reintegration against circumstances where past offending should remain disclosable.
Who may care
- People with eligible convictions and their families
- Employers, lawyers, justice and rehabilitation organisations, road-safety groups and victims' advocates
How to make a submission
- Read the bill and explanatory material linked from Parliament's submission page.
- Make an online submission to the Justice Committee before midnight on the closing date.
Disclaimer
Civics.nz is an independent plain-English guide and is not an official government website. Always check the official source before making a submission.