Many people need to get a Toronto criminal record check. The number of health facilities, colleges and universities, volunteer organizations and employers means there’s a great deal of demand. As well, you need to get a criminal record check to get a Toronto business licence.
Criminal record checks are generally done at GTA police services such as:
Fees, hours and requirements will differ depending on the police service, so check the website for instructions before you go. As well the waiting time to receive the completed check will vary.
There are also a number of third-party companies that promise to do the check faster than the 10 days listed on the Toronto Police Service website. Check with the organization you are applying for before choosing one of these organizations as it may not be accepted. In fact, the city does not accept third party record checks for business licences.
Toronto Criminal Record Check types
There are different types of Toronto criminal record check types depending on your needs.
Criminal Record Check: Most jobs, such as banking, finance, IT, etc., will require this type of check. This is a basic criminal record check that searches the non-pardoned records contained in the Canadian Police Information (CPIC) database.
Vulnerable Sector Screening: This is a more thorough screening that looks at anything that might pose a risk to children or to adults who are vulnerable due to age, disability or illness. It can also look at pardoned sexual offences. It uses the CPIC database, but may also look at the records of other police services. This is commonly requested from workers and volunteers in a healthcare or social work setting.
Record Suspension: If you are applying for a pardon (which is now called Record Suspension in Canada), you will need local police records checks for every place you have resided in the past five years. You need a copy of your Certified Criminal Record from the RCMP in order to request this check. If you are doing a Record Suspension with AllCleared, we will request this on your behalf.
The Record Suspension process involves obtaining fingerprints and getting your criminal record from the RCMP. However, fingerprints may also be needed for the Criminal Record Check or Vulnerable Sector Screening if you have a criminal record, or you have similar personal details to someone in the police database who does have a record.
Clearing a criminal record
Criminal record checks are becoming commonplace in Toronto, especially for public sector jobs. They are even a requirement for business licences. Academic programs often require a record check, especially if they involve a practicum. If you live in Toronto, you’ll likely run up against a record check at some point in your career.
As soon as you are able, you should start the process to seal your criminal record, so that you can take advantage of all the opportunities a big city like Toronto offers.
Contact us today for a free consultation about getting a pardon for a criminal record at 1-866-972-7366.