A criminal record remains on file in Canada but does not necessarily need to serve as a barrier to gaining employment, being approved for promotion, being granted child custody, volunteering, qualifying for accommodation.
Convictions can follow you for life, affecting your ability to move forward, reintegrate into society. Obtaining a Canadian pardon (record suspension) is the only way to gain full freedom, to eliminate the stigma associated with having a criminal record.
The How
To obtain a record suspension, you must apply to the Parole Board of Canada. However, the Parole Board requires individuals to have fulfilled certain terms before submitting an application: Applicants must have completed their sentences as well as observed the required waiting period after completion of the sentence(s).
Sentence completion prerequisites: Fines, costs, restitution and compensation orders, and surcharges must have been paid; the individuals must have served their time as outlined in their verdicts; individuals must have finished probation orders.
Waiting period after sentence completion: A summary conviction requires a 5-year waiting period; an indictable conviction, a 10-year period.
The What
A record suspension removes the federal records of a criminal conviction from federal databases so that it is no longer visible and cannot be accessed. It is recognition that a person convicted of a criminal offence has completed a sentence and has demonstrated law-abiding behavior in the community for a prescribed number of years.
A record suspension is evidence that a conviction should no longer reflect negatively on a person’s character. The Criminal Records Act restricts access to records under federal jurisdiction and removes any disqualifications that would result from a conviction. Further, it specifies that information about pardoned offences shall not be sought in the employment applications of organizations under federal jurisdiction. Also, the Canadian Human Rights Act forbids federal agencies and departments to discriminate against an individual based on a pardoned record.
The Why
Criminal record checks are now routinely undertaken in relation to employment, housing, volunteering, child custody, adoption, and the like. So in addition to safeguarding against discrimination normally associated with pursuing such endeavors and improving one’s marketability, eliminating the shame or stigma associated with having a criminal past will definitely improve one’s sense of self-worth.
If you need a pardon (record suspension), contact Pardon Services Canada to assist you. A Client Specialist will ensure that all the required forms are created and compiled to support your application. Pardon Services Canada’s pro-active approach ensures that your case is processed expeditiously and you will be kept informed at each stage of the process. Your pardon is guaranteed.
