CLEANSLATE Pardons
10 Pheasant Run P1L0A9 Bracebridge, ON, Canada

Show me ... don't tell me. When you’re applying for a Canadian record suspension, it’s really, really important to substantiate the examples you use to demonstrate you’re deserving of a favourable decision. This is because parole board decision makers do not have to take you at your word.... In fact, the Criminal Records Act gives the Parole Board of Canada exclusive jurisdiction and absolute discretion to order, refuse to order or revoke a record suspension (or pardon). And board policy puts the onus on the applicant to obtain documentation that provides adequate, reliable, relevant and verifiable information. For instance, let’s say you indicate in your record suspension application that you’ve been volunteering in the community for the past five years since you completed your sentence. You might substantiate this claim with a reference letter from the volunteer organization(s) you’ve helped out. That letter could indicate your tenure as a volunteer, the roles you filled and the benefit the community received as a result of your efforts. While it’s not mandatory to take this added step as part of the record suspension application process, it might help influence the amount of weight a parole board appointee places on your claims when considering whether to order (or refuse to order) a record suspension in your case.

What you need to know about good conduct. The laws dealing with Canadian record suspensions are in the Criminal Records Act. One of these laws establish good conduct as the primary test that the Parole Board of Canada will consider when reviewing applications. Board policy defines good conduct as behaviour that’s consistent with, and demonstrates, a law-abiding lifestyle. The parole board takes this very seriously and employs a team of well-trained investigators who will ...access all sorts of police records when looking into an applicant’s background. The types of things they’ll be looking for are any post-conviction incidents that show a pattern of behaviour that is not law-abiding. This can be any negative behaviour that attracted the attention of police or the courts, regardless of whether any charges or fines resulted. Behaviour that’s consistent with the nature of the convictions on the applicant’s criminal record will attract extra scrutiny and could be given more weight in the final decision. For example, a recent speeding ticket or multiple traffic offences over a period of time could be highly relevant to a criminal record involving driving-related convictions. Public intoxication or having open alcohol in a public place could be viewed very negatively when reviewing an application involving convictions for driving while impaired. Applicants would be well-served to remember that even seemingly casual contact with police can be documented and show up in databases queried by parole board investigators. These interactions are important to address in the application because case law supports the board’s obligation to consider a wide range of relevant, reliable evidence in making its decisions. Even withdrawn, stayed, dismissed or acquitted charges are fair game as are peace bonds and discharges. In the end, any information that serves as an indicator of the applicant’s lifestyle and associations can be given weight in the board’s decision and cause that member to refuse to order a record suspension.

Today's record suspension is yesterday's pardon ... sort of. So, what’s in a name? Pardons and record suspensions are certainly different terms. However, they essentially mean the same thing because they have the same effect.... The term pardon was replaced by record suspension in March 2012. This change was one of several to the Criminal Records Act the legal reference point for all-things-pardon. Other changes to those laws included longer waiting periods to apply and more restrictive eligibility criteria. For example, if you’re convicted of a less serious crime (called a summary offence), the Parole Board of Canada cannot consider you for a record suspension until five years have passed from the time your sentence ends. To calculate your waiting period, simply add 60 months to the date your prison sentence ended, your probation period was completed or you paid you fine in full. If you’re convicted of a more serious crime (called an indictable offence), you’ll be waiting twice as long (yes, a whole decade) to become eligible for a Canadian record suspension. However, if your criminal record includes three or more serious-type offences, and if each of them resulted in a sentence of two or more years, you’re permanently out of luck because you’re now ineligible for a record suspension under the new law. Also ineligible (with certain exceptions) are people who have convictions for sexual offences against minors.

Did you know? CLEANSLATE Pardons specializes in preparing error-free record suspension applications (formerly known as a pardon) that are guaranteed to pass the Parole Board of Canada’s stringent screening phase where most failures occur. This is a private service with limited intake, and prices start at just $249 (plus tax and disbursements), which includes a free consultation to determine eligibility. Watch for future posts that aim to help explain the process and what's required to produce a winning application.

Speed. Convenience. Reliability. Three terrific reasons why it makes sense to use CLEANSLATE Pardons’ criminal record check service. CLEANSLATE Pardons is authorized to obtain criminal record checks for employment, volunteers, cross-border travel, tenant screening, immigration purposes, credit applications and more. Here’s a snapshot of the features and benefits of our service:... We can normally obtain results through our police partner within hours of submitting the check request. So decisions can now happen much more quickly. We’re available for same-day appointments at any reasonable hour on any day of the week. We can set up at any business location, job fair or volunteer recruitment event to perform on-site checks. We print the certificate of results on official letterhead with an embossed seal that identifies our police partner.

What types of criminal record checks does CLEANSLATE Pardons provide? The short answer is regular and premium. A regular check will query convictions for a criminal or other federal offence. This is an entry-level check that’s a good starting point for a basic employee-screening program. ... Employers hiring into sensitive roles such as positions of trust for money, property, security, and confidential information or data may want to obtain a premium check, which searches criminal record entries for both convicted offences and non-conviction information. When the check is completed, the applicant will receive an authentic Canadian Police Certificate that indicates either a negative or an incomplete result. A negative result means no relevant records were found in the national Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database that match, or are closely similar to, the applicant’s name and birthday. An incomplete result means a record was found in the CPIC database that belongs to a person whose personal information matches or is closely similar to the information provided by the applicant. For cases where the found record is relevant, the applicant can simply make a declaration and consent to the police confirming this information to the employer through CLEANSLATE Pardons. However, CLEANSLATE Pardons and its police partner will not release specific information about types of convictions and charges on the basis of a name and date-of-birth query.

When do you need a vulnerable sector search to volunteer or obtain employment? A vulnerable sector search (VSS) is the most intrusive type of criminal record check. And for good reason. They are used to screen workers and volunteers who, in the performance of their duties, will be responsible for the well-being of a vulnerable person. The law defines a vulnerable person as someone who, because of their age, a disability, or other temporary or permanent circumstances, is i...n a position of dependency on others or is otherwise at greater risk than the general population of being harmed by a person in a position of trust or authority towards them. A VSS will typically query all entries in a person’s criminal record, just like the premium check offered by CLEANSLATE Pardons. However, it may also indicate any outstanding charges still before the courts as well as local police records not stored by CPIC, such as incident reports concerning theft, weapons, sex offences and violent, harmful or threatening behaviour that did not result in charges. Perhaps most notably, a VSS queries the presence of certain sex-offence convictions that were pardoned (now known as a record suspension). There are privacy concerns about the sensitivity of this information because pardoned convictions are effectively sealed away and cannot be disclosed to any person without ministerial approval. As such, the Criminal Records Act imposes strict limits on when an employer or volunteer organization can request a vulnerable sector search. It is important to note that not every position involving contact with a vulnerable person will meet these requirements. In fact, to be eligible for a vulnerable sector search, the role must put the paid worker or volunteer in a position of trust or authority towards the vulnerable person. Further, the search must be requested by the person or organization responsible for the well-being of the vulnerable person and only upon receiving an application for a paid or volunteer position. The applicant must consent, in writing, to the verification and disclosure of search results.

What is a criminal record check? A criminal record also called a fingerprint sheet (FPS) generally includes convictions under a federal Act, such as the Criminal Code of Canada, as well as information about federal charges that did not result in convictions. Any pardoned convictions (now known as a record suspension) are kept separate and apart from other criminal records and their existence is not normally disclosed to any person. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RC...MP) manages the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), which maintains the database of all criminal records in Canada. CLEANSLATE Pardons’ police partner will query the CPIC database by using the applicant’s full legal name and date of birth. These searches also typically include any other names used by the applicant and all addresses where the applicant has lived up to the past five years. The results are printed on an authentic Canadian Police Certificate that features official letterhead and an embossed seal that identifies our police partner.

Getting a job offer can be a life-changing moment. But most offers are for a limited-time only and come with an important string attached a clean criminal record check. Employers don’t want to wait weeks to know what you already know. They get impatient. Because time is money. And you’re not making them any cash if you’re sidelined because you’re waiting for a criminal check to be completed. Miss the offer deadline and risk being passed over for the next qualified can...didate. Can you afford to take that risk? After all, you too want to get working as quickly as possible. There are bills to pay fun to be bought and well more bills to pay. But you won’t be earning a paycheque until your new boss is satisfied that you’re trustworthy and credible. And simply saying you are won’t cut it it’s a classic case of show-me-don’t-tell-me. In fact, criminal record checks are just as essential to the hiring process as interviews, cover letters, and resumes nowadays. CLEANSLATE Pardons understands that speed is everything when a job is on the line. That’s why we obtain record checks for our clients in a matter of hours. Yes, hours. Not days not weeks. So give us a call when you need a criminal record check done. Because when that need arises, it will be urgent. And you can’t afford to wait. CLEANSLATE Pardons is available for same-day appointments at any reasonable hour on weekdays and weekends.

Cottage life can be a wonderful thing. It’s often envisioned as an escape to those treasured moments when simplicity and relaxation overtake our lives, and we actually allow ourselves to get away from it all. In fact, for many, the cottage is a best friend. But if your cottage could talk, what would it say about what’s happening when you’re not there? Would it tell you your renters were respectful guests during their stay? What would it confide about the folks you pay to l...ook after it? The truth is, you can never be certain that people you invite to your property will have your best interests in mind. And extending trust to strangers is difficult. Especially when it involves a place that’s closer to the heart than most. But you can get a lot closer to the truth than first impressions and a self-serving list of references. CLEANSLATE Pardons is Muskoka’s criminal record service. It is authorized to obtain criminal record checks for all sorts of non-criminal purposes, including employment contracts, tenant screening and more. Our checks are processed by our police partner through the same national database used by all Canadian police services. We obtain a certificate of results within just hours, which we print on official letterhead with an embossed seal that identifies our police partner. So, you can be sure you’re getting the real deal. Make a referral to CLEANSLATE Pardons before you next permit access to your property. And sustain the peace of mind that owning a cottage should bring.

It's tough living with secrets. And let's face it, criminal records don't make good dinner conversation. Get in touch with us for help with a record suspension. We will professionally prepare an application that's guaranteed to pass the parole board's screening phase, which is where the highest failure rates occur in the process. Go to www.cleanslatepardons.ca for more information. Or you can phone or text us at 705-641-1498 for same-day service.

Attention snowbirds, vacationers and business travellers. US immigration law allows border officials to deny entry to non-residents on the basis of criminal and other matters. If you're unsure of your status, we can obtain a criminal record check within hours to determine if you're at risk of being stopped. We can also help you apply for a record suspension to decrease your risk of inadmissibility. Get in touch with us by text or phone at 705-641-1498 on any day at any reasonable hour. Same-day appointments available.

Criminal records are show-stoppers for employers. But we can get you over this hurdle by professionally preparing a winning application for a record suspension, formerly known as a pardon. Get in touch by text or phone at 705-641-1498. Or visit us at www.cleanslatepardons.ca. We're available for same-day appointments on any day of the week at any reasonable hour.