What do the RCMP and CPIC have to do with criminal records?
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is the federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for maintaining criminal databases. They control the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), a federal database that holds information and criminal records on every individual with a conviction in Canada. Once a pardon has been granted, the National Parole Board (NPB) will ensure that the criminal record is removed from the CPIC database and permanently sealed away, ensuring that other law enforcement agencies cannot find that information.
What is in a criminal record?
A criminal record contains information on each conviction, including the court dates, date of disposition, the charge, and the disposition itself. This information will remain on your criminal record for the rest of your life.
Once I’ve been pardoned, nobody can ever see my record, right?
This is true in the vast majority of cases. Once a criminal record has been pardoned, it is removed and permanently sealed from all federal databases. The only possible way for law enforcement to get permission to view your pardoned criminal record is through a formal request to the Minister of Public Safety. This permission is granted only in the rarest of circumstances, and extremely unlikely to happen. However, individuals with convictions for sexual crimes against vulnerable individuals who are required to undergo a Vulnerable Sector Search (whether for volunteering, for work, etc) will be ‘red flagged’ in the National Sex Offender Registry database that the RCMP created for this purpose. Once again, this is unlikely to affect most pardoned individuals.
What happens if I enter the U.S. with a criminal record?
Depending on your criminal conviction, you may be legally entitled to enter the United States. However, if you have a conviction for a Crime of Moral Turpitude and you neglect to inform U.S. Customs, you will be entering illegally. In this situation, it is best to get a U.S. Entry Waiver or pardon as soon as possible. You will need to speak with one of our experienced consultants immediately in order to decide the best course of action for you to take. Please call us at 1-800-298-5520.
Who can apply for a pardon?
Anybody with a criminal conviction can apply for a pardon. It is only important that these individuals ensure that they are eligible to apply for a pardon when the application is submitted to the National Parole Board. For more information on pardon eligibility, please fill out our free evaluation, or contact us at 1-800-298-5520 to learn more.
Does a criminal record automatically disappear?
A criminal record does not automatically disappear. It is held by the RCMP until an individual reaches 80, and in some cases, 100 years of age. Therefore your criminal record is likely to remain with you as long as you live. It is for this reason that many people with criminal convictions decide to apply for a pardon in order to clear their names, and move on with their lives.
Can I start the pardon process now, even if I’m not currently eligible?
Yes you can! We often recommend that our clients begin the application process before they are formally eligible to apply for a pardon. This is because it takes months to pull together the required information and the application can be nearly completed by the time the individual becomes eligible. Submitting your pardon application to the National Parole Board as soon as possible once you become eligible means that you can get rid of your criminal record as fast as possible! For more information on how this can be done, please call our consultant’s toll free at 1-800-298-5520.
I’m applying for Canadian Citizenship. Do I need a pardon?
It is extremely important that you get a pardon for any Canadian criminal convictions before you apply for Canadian citizenship. This is because Immigration Canada will send your citizenship application to the RCMP in order to determine the existence of a criminal record. If you do have a criminal conviction, your application will be denied, and you may risk deportation. Please do not take this risk, call our consultant’s today at 1-800-298-5520 to get your pardon application started!
How does a pardon help in child custody cases?
A pardon is extremely helpful in child custody cases. The court judge will look at the existence of a criminal record as a negative statement of character, which may make them less likely to rule in your favour. Having a pardon, however, provides a positive statement of character as it illustrates that you have made a conscious effort to move beyond your criminal past. A pardon can be an extremely helpful tool in these delicate situations.
* Pardons.ca does not provide legal, financial, or personal advice. Should you require such assistance please contact an individual authorized to operate in those fields.
**Pardons.ca does not have any impact on the duration of the processing times of the Department of Homeland Security in the United States.