Choosing the right pardon agency can eliminate delays and save $1000’s

What is the purpose of a record suspension / pardon and how does it benefit me?

Your criminal record will not be erased, but it will be removed from the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database, keeping it separate and apart from all other criminal records so when a background search is conducted it will not reveal that you’ve ever had a criminal record, nor will it show that you were granted a pardon.

Your clear background will help you gain access to better employment, education, volunteering and many other opportunities.

A pardon will also speed-up the preparation of an e-Safe waiver application, if one is required.

Will a Canadian pardon allow me entry into the United States?

While your record will be set aside, it doesn’t erase the fact you were convicted, and US Customs and Border Protection does not recognize a Canadian pardon. Depending on the nature of your criminal record, you may need to apply for a US entry waiver.

Does a pardon remove the prohibition(s) that I received as part of my sentence?

Prohibitions are not removed and will remain in place until the date of expiration.

When am I eligible to apply for a pardon?

Determining eligibility can be confusing due to legislative changes and court rulings.

Eligibility ranges from 3, 5 to 10 years and depends on:

• when the most recent offence was committed

• date when the sentence was fully completed

• nature of the offence(s)

A court order that prohibits you from driving or owning a firearm is not considered as part of a sentence.

If I have multiple convictions on my criminal record, but am ineligible because of one offence, can I still get a pardon for the other offences on the record?

No. You must be eligible for all offences that are on your record to be able to apply for a pardon / record suspension. You cannot select which convictions you would like to have pardoned.

Why is the Parole Board involved in my pardon application?

The PBC is the government agency that is responsible for deciding on who is awarded a pardon / record suspension for convictions in Canada.

Can a pardon be revoked?

Statistics indicate that it's unlikely that a pardon would be revoked, but it can. If a pardon is revoked the record would be added back in to CPIC's network.

What is the difference between a pardon and record suspension?

On March 13, 2012 the government's amendments to the CRA went into effect. Changes included a symbolic renaming from pardons to record suspensions, as well as increasing the time before an applicant is eligible to apply. Certain sexual offences and individuals convicted of more than three indictable offences and who received a prison sentence of two or more years were also deemed ineligible.

Why doesn’t the RCMP document that I received after I was fingerprinted list the offence(s) that I was convicted of?

In some cases the police that were involved in your arrest did not forward your offence(s) to the National RCMP to have your conviction(s) entered into the criminal record repository.

To pursue your pardon you would need to, either obtain a certified copy of the conviction(s) from the court that you were convicted in or a record from the arresting police. The Parole Board would add the offence(s) in to CPIC and then the granting of a pardon would have this information removed.

In instances such as this, some people decide not to continue their pardon application because the charges are not appearing on the search results and are not negatively impacting their situation.

Why should I hire a company to process my pardon application?

Because nearly 30% of all pardon applications were returned incomplete.

Of the 17,572 applications that the Board received during the last fiscal period, only 12,785 were completed properly.

We will prepare your documents, make sure every detail is in order and submit your application quickly, ensuring that it’s approved sooner.

File destruction in Canada: what you should know about non-conviction record destruction

If you’ve ever been arrested and charged with a crime the police have your information on file - even if the charges were stayed, withdrawn, dismissed or discharged. The same is true if you entered into a peace bond or diversion program.

You now have a non-conviction criminal record that you’ll need to destroy.

The file destruction process

We contact the arresting police service and submit a file destruction request on your behalf. After the arresting police approve the request, they contact the RCMP Identification Services and request the destruction of the non-conviction information.

Exactly what files and information get destroyed?

All identification documents, including those, submitted to the RCMP National Repository of Criminal Records are destroyed.

Your criminal record history that was entered into the CPIC database held at the RCMP Repository is deleted and, most importantly, your FPS number is canceled.

What’s an FPS number and why is it so important?

FPS stands for Fingerprint Section number and is a unique number assigned to an individual that has been fingerprinted. FPS numbers are shared with the United States and are accessible by US Customs and Border Protection. As part of our file destruction request we ensure the arresting police service cancels your FPS number.

Is there a waiting period before I can apply to have my file destroyed?

Yes, general time frames include:

• stay of proceedings: 1 year

• peace bond: after the expiration

• withdrawn, dismissed, acquitted: 1-6 months

Each police service sets its own guidelines about when you can apply. We will provide specific details surrounding your file destruction timeline and eligibility.

Does the RCMP automatically remove absolute and conditional charges?

Yes, absolute and conditional charges are automatically removed one and three years, respectively, after being sentenced. However, the local police have your fingerprints and photos on file, which you can request be destroyed.

Will I have to get fingerprinted for a file destruction?

No, RCMP fingerprints are not required. If you’re told fingerprints are required as part of the process contact us, and we’ll submit your request immediately.

How much does a file destruction request cost?

The average cost of having your criminal file destroyed is $240, depending upon:

• the disposition of the charge(s)

• having non-conviction records with multiple police services

• whether the files still exist

• the police charging a service fee