HOW TO CLEAR A POLICE RECORD IN CANADA

 

For Canadian citizens convicted with a criminal offense, a simple background check can present a myriad of problems, especially when it comes to employment, travel, volunteering, coaching and Canadian immigration. Having a conviction on your criminal record cause unnecessary stress and worry when applying for a job or travelling outside of Canada. For citizens wondering how to clear a police record or pass a background check, there is hope. A record suspension, formerly called a pardon, will remove a criminal record from public record, giving law-abiding citizens an opportunity to reintegrate into society and become contributing members of their respective communities. People who feel part of their communities make better parents, neighbours, and overall citizens. Many people have made regrettable mistakes and moved on from them, making positive long-lasting changes in their lives. A record suspension can help remove the stigma and shame associated with a criminal past, granting people a fresh start and a new lease on life.

 

What Is The Effect Of A Record Suspension?

 

If you apply for and receive a record suspension, it will remove all information about the conviction from the Canadian Police Information Centre(CPIC) database. A record suspension also removes the disqualifications caused by a criminal conviction, such as the ability to contract with the federal government or eligibility for Canadian citizenship. This means that it will not show up on a routine background check when applying for a job, volunteering or coaching.  Federal agencies cannot give out information about the conviction without approval from the Minister of Public Safety Canada. However, if you are convicted of a new criminal offence, the information may lead to a reactivation of the file in the Canadian Police Information Centre database

When Can I Apply For A Record Suspension?

 

Before you can apply for a record suspension, you must have completed all of your sentences, including payment of all fines, surcharges, costs, restitution and compensation orders. Once you have completed all of your sentences (including parole and probation orders), the clock on your waiting period begins. The waiting period differs depending on the type of offense you have committed. Schedule 1 offenses and people with more than three offences prosecuted by indictment, each with a prison sentence of two years or more are not eligible for a record suspension. The waiting period for a summary offence is five years, whereas a person who has committed an indictable offence must wait at least ten years before applying for a record suspension.

How To Remove Your Criminal Record

 

Your past mistakes do not have to affect your future. If you are wondering how to clear your police record, you can read more about record suspensions on the Pardons Canada website.  Applying for a record suspension is a ten-step process that once approved, can help remove the stigma and shame associated with having a conviction on your criminal record. While you do not need a lawyer to apply for a record suspension, it can be a stressful and complicated process. Any sort of misrepresentation on your form can result in your application being denied or even revoked at a later date. Pardons Canada assists individuals in removing past criminal offences from their public record, gathering and processing all of the necessary documents to help clear your criminal record.