Useful Information On Police Record Checks In Canada

Useful Information On Police Record
Checks In Canada



Know your rights

It is important for every individual to know their rights when an employer or a
volunteer organization demand a record check. In most provinces, persons
cannot be discriminated based on their criminal convictions provided the
conviction does not affect the ability of the person to do the job or place
someone at risk. Before requesting for background check, the employer must
ask the consent of the applicant. Also, the human rights legislations do not
allow the employers to ask the applicants about criminal convictions in case a
pardon or record suspension was obtained.

Know the process

When an individual seeks to get a background check for any arising reason, they must first
visit the local police station. They have to fill out a form to request for the local police
check. The fees for this service can vary between districts while it is done free of cost at
some locations. Also the waiting time varies between districts. Apart from the waiting
time and fees charged, getting a police record check is a relatively simple process. In the
form, the applicant must mention the details including name, gender, date of birth,
address over the last five years and the information on the driver’s license if needed.

What happens after the police record check

After the process is completed, the police will give information on whether the check gives
results such as ‘clear’ or ‘not clear’. However, there is no further information provided on
what kind of criminal conviction exists and the reasons why the record came back ‘not
clear’.

Why the record can be ‘not clear’

There can be a number of reasons why a record is ‘not clear’. It can even happen in the
absence of any criminal convictions. Those people with discharged, stayed or withdrawn
charges can see this information on their records. Though this is never considered as a
conviction, the outcome of the record check is rather negative and needs to be remedied
through the right procedures. If an individual has the same name and date of birth as the
one who committed a crime, the record check will return as ‘not clear’. This is because
the local police uses only name and date of birth to retrieve the required information. The
confusion between two individuals can therefore occur. In such case, the subject can
request for a more in-depth police check using finger prints which are unique for every
person.

Contact Us

Pardons Canada

Add: 45 St Clair AveW - Suite 901Toronto, Ontario M4V 1K6
Phone: 833-461-5757
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.pardons.org