TIME PERIODS FOR EXPUNGEMENT OF CONVICTIONS INVOLVING FINES AND RESTRICTION OF LIBERTY

Abstract

The subject of the article is the problem of limitation periods for expunging a conviction in Polish criminal law in a situation where a fine or restriction of liberty was imposed. The study evaluates the current state of the law, which provides for expunging a conviction imposing a fine with the lapse of one year from the enforcement of the penalty, its remittance or the expiration of the limitation period for its enforcement, and for the penalty of restriction of liberty with the lapse of three years. The Ministry of Justice’s proposals to amend Article 107 of the Penal Code were also analyzed. In addition, the article discusses the problem of expunging a conviction when cumulative punishments are imposed – a fine or a sentence of restriction of liberty in addition to imprisonment. It was noted that the Penal Code lacks rules for expunging this type of conviction. The article assumes that in a situation where a conviction consists of more than one penalty, the conditions for expunging the conviction of all these penalties must be jointly met in order for such a conviction to be expunged.