Treatment and Rehabilitation Should Take Precedence

In principle, an offender is presumed to be rehabilitated once his time has been served. However, the reality is that our prisons have an almost flawless record of failure in this area. Treatment and rehabilitation, more effective and less expensive recourses, are being superseded by the government’s choosing to impose harsher sentences for relatively benign crimes and making it increasingly difficult to obtain a pardon for one’s past wrongs.

Truly, parts of the Conservative government’s omnibus crime bill make a great deal of sense, such as stiffer sentences for violent offenders and mandatory minimums for child sex offenders. However, provisions included in the new laws about pardons, along with these commendable steps, make it unacceptable and diametrically opposed to the most critical purpose of our justice system – the rehabilitation and reintegration of criminals into society and crime prevention.

New laws about pardons resulting from the bill are causing people to ask whether we are becoming a society that extinquishes hope instead of fostering it. The government’s new legislation on pardons in Canada favours incarceration and punishment over treatment and rehabilitation.

Conservatives have been pitted against almost everyone else in coverage of the debate surrounding this bill. Although the Conservative Party under Stephen Harper espouses many of the values that conservatives uphold, policies remain that cause significant rifts, both moral and philosophical, within the party. Many Tories did not vote for the rigorous, severe, and misguided measures in this backward-thinking legislation.

Proposed legislation for a criminal pardon will make it disproportionately difficult to obtain a pardon, which is the only means by which an ex-offender can remove the stigma of a criminal record and move on with life. One of the true measures of society is how it treats those who have made mistakes and paid for their errors, made restitution for their crimes.

Moreover, since those who have served time are more likely to re-offend when released, the bill’s provisions to increase incarceration for what are presently minor offences will only serve to create more of the recidivist offenders the bill is attempting to combat.

Fortunately, there is a course of action for anyone with a criminal record who sincerely wishes to make a new start. One can remove that criminal record by obtaining a record suspension. Pardon Services Canada will handle the entire process, assuring you of results. Call 1-8-NOW-PARDON (1-866-972-7366) to speak with a Client Specialist.

Changes to the Canadian Pardon – Get Your Pardon, Before It’s Too Late

 A Canadian Pardon will soon become “Record Suspension”. This change, along with tougher restrictions and a four-fold increase in the price of a pardon are coming. Apply now, or it may be too late.

A Change in Name

                One of the changes proposed by the new government is aesthetic. What is currently known as a Canadian Pardon will be changed to Record Suspension. This name change will not have any effect on people who currently have a Canadian pardon. Furthermore, the change will not have an effect on what a pardon, soon to be record suspension, actually accomplishes. The criminal record will continue to be sealed and made hidden from background checks conducted by future or current employers, volunteer organizations or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The change in name is meant to reflect the tough on crime stance of the Conservative government and is backed up by a higher price and new restrictions.

A Change in Price

                The current fee charged by the National Parole Board for processing and reviewing a Pardon Application is $150. Under the new legislation, the fee will be increased to $631. The fee increase seeks to take the financial burden of the application process away from the tax-payer and onto the applicant.

New Restrictions

                The new legislation will also make it more difficult, or in some cases, impossible to apply for a Canadian Pardon.

o   The applicant must not have been convicted of an offence involving sexual activity relating to a minor – as set out in a schedule of specified offences – unless the applicant can demonstrate s/he was “close in age” and that the offence did not involve a position of trust/authority, bodily harm or threat of violence/intimidation;

o   The applicant must not have been convicted of more than three (3) offences prosecuted by indictment.

o   The National Parole Board be granted “absolute discretion” to “order, refuse to order, or revoke” a record suspension

o   The waiting periods be extended from three to five years for summary offences and from five to ten years for indictable offences.

What to Do

                For most Canadians with a criminal record the main effect will be the substantial change in price given in Bill C-23b. Without professional paralegal help the pardon process can be expensive, extremely time consuming and repetitive given high rejection and error rates. With the new restrictions and increased price, the process is becoming even more difficult.

                There are professional experts in the field of Canadian Pardons who are able to help get you your pardon before it’s too late. With affordable rates and available financing from a trusted service provider a clear record is available. Don’t wait until it is too late. Get your Canadian pardon today.