Criminal Record Checks In B.C. – New Option For Volunteer Organizations
The enactment of the Criminal Records Review Amendment Act effective November 30th 2013, will allow organizations in British Columbia an easier way to obtain criminal record checks for their volunteers. A review of some of the key changes to the Act is summarized below, and in the attached Government bulletin.
The Criminal Records Review Act has been in place since 1996 and requires every employer in BC to ensure that existing or new employees working with children or vulnerable sector undergo a criminal record check. The criminal record check is performed through the government agency for a fee. The registrar notifies the employee and employer, as well as any governing body or educational institution involved, if a conviction or outstanding charge exists which presents a risk of physical or sexual abuse to children or vulnerable adults, or the risk of financial abuse to vulnerable adults. The employer is prohibited from hiring the employee for the job, or continuing to employ the employee, where the risk exists based on the outstanding charge or conviction. The criminal record check must be performed once every 5 years.
Effective November 30th, 2013 volunteer organizations will be able to obtain criminal record checks of present or future volunteers for free. New free of charge criminal record checks only conducted for volunteers working with children or with vulnerable adults. A new online service has been developed to manage the criminal record check process for new and sharing checks. Volunteers may share the results of their clear checks with other registered organizations through the online service reducing the need for multiple checks.
Enrolment in this program is not mandatory and volunteer organizations may choose not to register and continue using their current processes and providers.
If you are not eligible for the free criminal record check, or if you would prefer a more thorough criminal record check, Pardon Services Canada can obtain a certified criminal record from the Canadian Police Information Center (CPIC), a computerized national records retrieval system administered by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Ottawa. The record will list all your convictions, charges and discharges throughout Canada and the sentences received. The record will also list any government agency which has requested a copy of your criminal record.