11 Feb
2026The Institution of Criminal Record Expungement under the Vietnamese Criminal Code: Humanitarian Values and Practical Issues
Within the criminal policy of the Vietnamese State, the institution of criminal record expungement constitutes a clear manifestation of the principles of humanitarianism, rehabilitation, and recidivism prevention. The most significant legal consequence of this institution is that a person whose criminal record has been expunged is deemed not to have been convicted, thereby restoring their ordinary legal status in social relations. Accordingly, comprehensive research on the institution of criminal record expungement, both in theory and in practice, is necessary in order to contribute to the further development and refinement of Vietnamese criminal law.



