Redemption Inc. is a TV reality series that provides a chance-of-a-lifetime experience for former “guests” of Canadian correctional facilities who now have a criminal record. This reality show might well be controversial, perhaps disconcerting, to some parts of the viewing audience. But these competitors have paid their debt to society and deserve a second chance. And they, among the 13 % of Canadians with a criminal record, will eventually want to arrange to remove that criminal record by obtaining a Canadian pardon (record suspension).
Each of the eight episodes tests ten ex-cons’ business acumen by placing them into real-world scenarios to demonstrate their sales, marketing, and teamwork skills. These are individuals who have served time for various offences, except violent crimes and crimes against children. At the end of nine weeks, one candidate deemed most likely to succeed receives $100,000 to start a business, a prize that comes from the host’s own pocket.
This new twist on the reality shows currently available on television is based on the theme of giving ex-convicts a second chance. Self-made multimillionaire and TV personality Kevin O’Leary’s Redemption Inc. puts ten ex-convicts through a series of weekly entrepreneurial challenges to see who most deserves a $100,000 investment in their dream business. The show is based on the premise that “every criminal is a businessman,” for example, a successful drug dealer is also a logistics expert, great in sales, marketing, inventory control. This type of person can apply those talents to something legal.
Ex-cons face an uphill battle when they return to society. Challenged to find employment, arrange a loan, get a credit card, find accommodation, they are often not able to support themselves or their families and many find themselves back in prison. Since it costs a quarter of a million dollars a year to keep a person in prison, it makes sense to help ex-offenders to move forward.
If you have a criminal record, it will thwart your efforts to get that second chance. To prevent it from getting in your way, you should obtain a record suspension, which will remove your record from the Canadian Police Information Centre’s database so that it is no longer accessible during criminal record checks. A record suspension will allow you to make a new start. Contact a Client Specialist at Pardon Services Canada to assist you.