Alma movement proposes modernization of the convicted persons rehabilitation law

On August 13, 2026, the Alma movement submitted a proposal to the Cypriot Parliament to modernize the law regarding the rehabilitation of convicted persons. The initiative, led by deputies Odysseas Michailides, Michalis Paraskevas, and Litsa Drousiotou, aims to update the current 1981 legislation to reflect modern European standards, balancing the right to a second chance with the need for security in sensitive professional roles.

The proposed changes introduce automatic rehabilitation for prison sentences of up to four years after specific timeframes pass. Special provisions are included for individuals who committed offenses before the age of 21. Furthermore, the proposal suggests creating three levels of criminal record disclosure, allowing authorities to access information about past convictions when evaluating candidates for positions of high responsibility without enforcing an automatic lifelong exclusion. The legislative package also includes a corresponding amendment to the Police Law to integrate these changes into existing legal frameworks.