Question:
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Government will consider
expanding the coverage of the Yellow Ribbon Project such that ex-offenders for non-violent crimes will, contingent
on an extended period of good behavior following successful reintegration in society, be eligible for the
elimination of their criminal history from public records and hence not report this record for employment
purposes.
Answer:
1. Can the Member clarify what he means by “non-violent
crime”?
2. There are many offences which are serious but not violent in nature,
such as sexual
grooming, outrage of modesty, criminal breach of trust, and theft in dwelling. The Member may wish to note that his
suggestion, prima facie, appears to be that records of such crimes should be expunged, which will in turn mean that
ex-offenders could be employed in roles such as pre-school teachers or security officers, without their
employers being aware of their history.
3. The Government operates a framework, to rehabilitate, and find
employment for most
offenders, in a safe and transparent manner. And that framework is being constantly refined.
4. The Member can make a more detailed suggestion, if he wishes, and
the Government will
consider his suggestions.
