Strong Opposition Hasn’t Deterred Pardon Application Fee Increase

It’s important to note that Canadians who seek pardons, most typically to find employment, are low-risk offenders with minor charges. The Parole Board of Canada’s own statistics show that only 4% of those who receive pardons go on to re-offend. Despite this fact, the Canadian Government has increased the Parole Board of Canada’s pardon application fee from $150 to $631 – a 320% jump. Increasing the application fee does nothing to help these people reintegrate into Canadian society.

Despite strong opposition voiced during a government-mandated public consultation process last year, the Conservative Government decided to push through this counter-productive rate hike, effective February 23, 2012.

Pardon Services Canada is of the opinion that this increase is unfair and burdensome and does not represent the views of the majority of Canadians who believe strongly in giving people a second chance. A study commissioned by the Parole Board of Canada last year projects that the fee increase will result in a 40% decrease in pardon applications.

Pardon applications that were submitted to the Parole Board of Canada on or before February 22 were processed at the former rate of $150. Pardon Services Canada was doing everything possible to submit applications prior to that deadline to save the costs for as many clients as possible. We have also introduced an option enabling clients to finance their application fees into monthly payments to help diffuse the impact of this decision.

Pardon Services Canada is the oldest Canadian company offering professional support to individuals in obtaining pardons and serves as an advocate for Canadians to exercise their lawful rights under the Criminal Records Act of Canada (CRA) and the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of the United States. Since 1989 the company has successfully assisted over 100,000 Canadians to overcome the obstacles of a criminal record and live a record-free life.

Volunteering a Great Way to Open Doors

More than 2,000 athletes are expected to attend the 2012 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, happening in March. Organizers have been pressed to secure volunteers, with a total of 1,700 needed in order for the games to run smoothly. People are needed to help with food services, transportation, and security.

Since all volunteers must go through an RCMP background check, time is of the essence. However, this requirement should not deter anyone interested in helping out as conducting criminal background checks for volunteering with most causes is now the norm.

Here are some interesting facts about the Games [2012 Arctic Winter Games website]: 

• The participating teams are Yukon, N.W.T., Nunavut, Nunavik, Northern Alberta, Alaska, Greenland, Saami (Finland, Norway, and Sweden), and Yamal (Russia)

• The first games were held in Yellowknife 1970.

• There are 19 sports in the 2012 games, including snowshoe biathlon, dog mushing, hockey, and figure skating.

• The 2012 mascot is a husky dog named Borealis.

• The 2014 games will be held in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Volunteering your time, services, talents, and energies is actually a multi-faceted endeavor with a great deal of benefits. In addition to helping others, it will help you as well. Have you just recently graduated? Are you seeking a change in your career path? Are you reentering the work force after a period of time? Do you seek new challenges?

Also, volunteering could be thought of as a non-networking way of networking. Since networking is an excellent way to discover that “hidden” job market, the source of unsolicited jobs, you might consider it particularly appealing if you are somewhat introverted or simply aren’t comfortable trying the conventional ways to network.

Through volunteering, you expose yourself to other people with similar interests. Along the way, you are bound to learn new skills as you take on the duties and responsibilities for the activity you have committed yourself to. Your leadership potential, willingness to take initiative, desire to assist, ability to function as part of a team – all these assets will certainly be discovered.

If you feel you are being held back because you have a criminal record, you should definitely contact Pardon Services Canada to obtain a Pardon, which will remove your record from the Canadian Police Information Centre’s database so that it is no longer accessible during criminal record checks. A Client Specialist will ensure that your application will be processed expeditiously and you will be kept informed at each stage of the process.

Freedoms and Liberties of Citizens Vital to Progress of Society

Furthering the freedoms and liberties of citizens should be a principal goal of government. However, the Tories are instead straying farther away from supporting the individual freedoms that are vital to the progress of society by inducing government control and restriction of human behaviour. Proposed legislation for a criminal pardon in Canada threatens to curtail such freedoms and liberties.

Bear in mind the fact that, in many instances, tough-on-crime approaches do work. However, as a whole, we need a system that is smart on crime – one that seeks to address the root causes of criminal behaviour and that deals with these problems through prevention and treatment – rather than through the internment and repression of those who have made mistakes.

A section of the Conservative government’s Bill C-10 that bears particular mention is the amendment to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This amendment aims to vigorously attack the criminals who control the drug trade by imposing longer sentences on traffickers and consumers, and imprisoning those who are convicted of benign drug offences. Our new legislation on pardons in Canada will result in considerably greater numbers of individuals being inordinately burdened.

Millions of individuals are compelled to act and be treated as criminals simply because they enjoy the effects of certain substances as a result of drug prohibition by overbearing governments. Drug prohibition has also been distinguished by violence, corruption, and poverty. Through a system of indirect state sponsorship, profits associated with this trade have also surged as prohibition has entrenched the criminals involved in trafficking by allowing them to be the sole financial beneficiaries.

Certainly, the prospect of drug legalization is extremely complex. But most developed nations have been moving toward more liberal drug policies. For example, Portugal has decriminalized all drug possession, and the experience has, by almost all indications, been notably successful. Drug consumption, crime rates, and violence have all dropped significantly since people have been free to consume drugs without the fear of jail casting a shadow. Regrettably, new laws about pardons in Canada are nearly diametrically stanced.

Governments must cautiously calculate their actions and enact sensible policies that bridge the gap between what the government believes it was elected to achieve and what is best for the country.

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.

Crime Prevention in Community Supported by Dawson Creek Mall Patrons

Volunteers are being sought for the Dawson Creek Citizens on Patrol program, which provides a great deal of information that assists in RCMP investigations. All that is required of applicants is that they be at least 19 years old and submit a criminal record check. Such volunteer programs serve as excellent prerequisites for anyone interested in becoming an RCMP officer or for those who simply want to be more aware of what is happening in their community.

These efforts all serve the community in commendable ways, to be sure. But the benefits for volunteers are many and the experience will have lasting effects in their future lives. If you are interested in volunteering for such groups, either in Dawson Creek or elsewhere, it would be well worth your while.

Citizens on Patrol, along with the Rural Crime Watch, Speed Watch, and Restorative Justice programs, forms a group known as the South Peace Crime Prevention Association of Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Until December 23, volunteers and members of the Dawson Creek RCMP are wrapping gifts by donation to raise funds for the Association. The funds from gift wrapping have generally been used to send volunteers to crime symposiums and different workshops that help them when they are on patrol or working in partnership with the RCMP and the community.

Should you want to volunteer with community groups like these and need to provide a criminal record check, you can be assured of professional, efficient, and discreet assistance from Pardon Services Canada.

If you currently have a criminal record, you are well advised to contact Pardon Services Canada to have that record removed, restore your sense of well being, move forward.

Do You Really Want to Take the Chance?

The consequences of a DUI conviction are severe. A drunk driving charge may lead to:

• A criminal record, which may impede future employment, travel abroad, and community status
• A revoked license, which could make commuting to work difficult
• A long-term hike on your car insurance premiums, which will make owning and operating a vehicle less affordable
• A number of heavy fines, which can have a significant impact on your financial well being
• Collision costs – although your insurance company normally covers costs of an accident, it will not pay for drinking-related damages on any car involved in a crash.

So why do so many people still drive under the influence? Many individuals still feel that a couple of drinks will not make them unable to drive safely. In reality, after just a couple of drinks, you may not feel intoxicated; you might even feel that you are completely capable of driving. But legally, if your blood alcohol level is elevated, you are breaking the law.

A person convicted of driving while impaired in British Columbia, in Manitoba, in Ontario – anywhere across Canada – will end up with a criminal record since a DUI is a criminal offence. The bottom line is that if you are driving under the influence of anything, you are breaking the law. You can be charged with a DUI even if your vehicle isn’t moving.

According to the Canadian Safety Foundation, an estimated 1.5 million Canadian drivers travel while impaired each year. DUI cases accounted for 12 percent of all cases heard across the country last year, making it the most common criminal offence. Although almost 30 percent of drunk driving cases that go to court don’t lead to convictions in Canada, why take the chance? With the consequences being so high, driving while impaired is NOT worth the risk.

The only way to be certain that you are not putting yourself and others in harm’s way is if you drink anything, don’t get behind the wheel.

If you have a DUI conviction, you will want to consider getting a Pardon, which will seal your record so that it is no longer visible. A criminal record can follow you for life, so a Pardon will provide relief from the stigma once and for all. Contact a Client Specialist at Pardon Services Canada who will answer all your questions and guide you through the pardon process.

Giving Victims and Communities a Voice

An approach being considered for dealing with the Stanley Cup rioters is one that represents viewing conflict as an opportunity for a community to learn and grow, operating on the premise that conflict, even criminal conflict, inflicts harm. Individuals must accept responsibility for repairing that harm. Communities – family, peers, professionals – are empowered to choose their response to conflict: Victims, offenders, and communities actively participate in devising and implementing mutually beneficial solutions.

This restorative justice approach has the accused meet with the person the crime impacted, apologize, and then both sides work out a punishment. Restorative justice is designed to put more focus on the victim who, in the conventional court process, doesn’t get a voice beyond making a victim impact statement. Victims are basically excluded in the legal process, except as witnesses. The community doesn’t have a place within the criminal justice process. Through restorative justice, victims get a clear voice. The focus is on victim needs, offender responsibility, and community building.

In October, the Vancouver Police Department recommended 163 charges against 60 individuals suspected of taking part in the Stanley Cup riot. At this time, more than 60 charges have been laid against 25 people, and the VPD is finalizing the next batch of charges to be forwarded to the Crown in the coming weeks. As for the rest of the suspected rioters, evidence is still being reviewed.

All well and good – or is it? Some people are skeptical as to the type of punishment that will ultimately be handed down. Will many rioters simply be given a slap on the wrist; will some actually do jail time; how much probation will be meted out? And what good will any type of punishment actually accomplish?

To set the record straight, so to speak, restorative justice is not soft on crime. Far greater creativity exists in restorative justice in determining what needs to happen to make amends, set things right. The approach has been used successfully with all kinds of conflict, including serious crimes like assault and murder.

Canada was the first nation to offer a victim/offender reconciliation program, initiated by the Mennonite Community in Kitchener, Ontario. Viewed world-wide as having experts in the field of violent-offence (post-incarceration) mediation, Canada has also been on the leading edge of adopting the Aboriginal concept of circle remedies, now an integral part of progressive programming in the federal justice system.

We will continue to see offenders acquiring criminal records, but with restorative justice, conflicts will be resolved in a way that restores harmony in the community members’ relationships and allow people to continue to live together in a safer, healthy environment.

And anyone with a criminal record who sincerely wishes to make a new start can do so by obtaining a record suspension to remove that criminal record. 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.

Overcoming Roadblocks in Life - With a Little Help

Out of the deep depths of misfortune comes bliss [Chinese proverb] – Something that will seem surprising to many is the fact that, for the last two years, Sir Richard Branson has been encouraging the managing directors of hundreds of Virgin companies to take on ex-offenders.

Many people end up in prison because they’ve had bad luck, setbacks, and roadblocks in their lives. And when they try to find employment or suitable accommodation, their criminal record becomes another type of roadblock. Recruiters and some landlords routinely undertake a criminal record check when evaluating applicants. Very few get hired or approved once information about a criminal record is revealed.

Branson was prompted to employ applicants with a criminal record after being invited by his friend Jane Tewson to spend a day in a high-security prison in Melbourne, Australia. Known for championing unpopular causes, Tewson wanted him to see the work that was being done to get prisoners employed after being released and to see why it was so important.

Representatives from Australian transport company Toll met with Branson. Toll has employed about 460 ex-prisoners over the past decade, none of whom are known to have reoffended so far. He then contacted the managing directors of Virgin companies saying Virgin must also try to employ as many ex-convicts as possible. The response was generally positive.

Branson learned about the UK charity Working Chance, founded four years ago, that specializes in arranging recruitment for women offenders coming out of prison. He now is involved with the charity, which has successfully placed 173 female ex-prisoners with companies like Pret a Manger, Sainsbury’s, and Virgin.

If more companies were to follow Branson’s example, share his vision, ex-offenders would find doors opening where they never would before. Society needs to support positive initiatives to encourage rehabilitation of prisoners. Finding worthwhile employment is critical to that second chance.

For background checks requested for purposes other than working with vulnerable people, the RCMP cannot disclose a pardoned criminal record, even for a sexual conviction. Once a record suspension has been granted, that criminal record is removed from the Canadian Police Information Centre’s database. While a record of the conviction still exists, it is kept separate and apart from the database used for criminal record checks.

Thus, an individual who sincerely wishes to make a new start, who regrets any previous mistakes that resulted in a conviction, can do so by removing that criminal record by obtaining a record suspension.

For your record suspension or a US Entry Waiver, contact Pardon Services Canada or call 1-8-NOW-PARDON (1-866-972-7366). A Client Specialist will handle the entire process for you.

Canada Should Learn From Measures Implemented Elsewhere

Canada’s federal government’s “tough-on-crime” package is headed in the wrong direction.

Researchers Alana Cook and Ronald Roesch of Simon Fraser University’s psychology department reviewed data from other jurisdictions that have already implemented some of the policies that Canada’s federal government is now pursuing relevant to cost, effect on crime rates, and impact on vulnerable populations. The results show that key elements have proven costly and ineffective in other countries.

Many changes to the Criminal Code that have been either enacted or proposed have the effect of increasing prison terms. However, analyses of studies conducted in Canada indicate that longer prison terms result in criminals being slightly more likely to reoffend upon release. Also, first nations and the mentally ill will be discriminated against.

Mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes will increase both the number of prisoners in the system and the length of sentence they serve. Yet research from the United States suggests they result in people who are not a threat to society being incarcerated and that prosecutors in that country often did not file charges calling for the mandatory minimum sentence even when the evidence was present. Research from South Africa suggested that the introduction of mandatory minimums in that country resulted in overcrowding of prisons and disproportionate prison sentences to offences.

The report points out that the reforms will also come at a significant cost to taxpayers. In the US, according to one study, a tripling of the incarceration rate over a 20-year period as a result of tougher crime laws resulted in a $43 billion increase in the amount of tax revenue spent on the prison system.

The researchers pointed out that studies suggest prisons in Canada are already overcrowded, the number of times guards have to use force against prisoners is increasing, and inmates have limited access to correctional programs. An increased prison population will only exacerbate these conditions.

Both first nations and the mentally ill are already over-represented in the prison system. First nations make up 4 percent of Canada’s population, but 20 percent of inmates. The proportion of Canadian inmates with mental illness is three times higher than in the general population. Mandatory minimum sentences will thus disproportionately affect these groups.

Cook and Roesch concluded that community-based programs targeting at-risk youth are more effective than incarceration at reducing crime rates and come with a much lower price tag. Researchers in California found that such programs working with at-risk youth are more effective and cost significantly less per person. 

Move to Quadruple Pardon Application Fees Provokes Backlash

The Conservative government wants to quadruple the cost of applying for a pardon, increasing the cost from the current $150 to $631. Critics say this will have many negative consequences. Last spring’s public consultation process overwhelmingly rejected the fee increase. A report on the consultations was released mid-August.


An impressive body of discerning groups, including prison advocates, church groups, criminologists, psychologists, and the Canadian Bar Association are greatly disturbed at the prospect. As well, among 14 government bodies that felt the increase would prove prohibitive were the RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency, Citizenship and Immigration, the Justice Department, and Public Safety Canada.

More than 98 percent of the 1,074 individuals and organizations who responded in the public consultations objected to the fee increase. The three-member independent advisory panel used the public and internal government responses to advise Public Safety to keep the fees at $150, but this recommendation has been rejected.

A summary of the common responses provided by government agencies states that such a large fee increase for applicants would pose a financial burden and serve as an impediment for many potential applicants attempting to reintegrate into society.

Ontario Conservative Senator Bob Runciman is urging the government to reconsider its proposal to quadruple the fees for seeking a criminal pardon, saying that he thinks that there’s an inherent unfairness in the approach the National Parole Board is taking.

Thousands of Canadians apply for pardons for such necessities as employment opportunities, security clearances, rental requirements, volunteering, and adoption. Runciman feels that the Board should consider the complexity of each case when calculating fees. For example, processing a pardon for shoplifting is less complicated than for someone convicted of arson.

The Parole Board’s director for clemency and pardons, Denis Ladouceur, testified about the process to a group of senators studying the fee increase. He explained that for an indictable offence the act compels his staff to do more exhaustive verifications.

Senator Runciman has suggested a tiered approach, based on the level of the crime committed. The Liberal public safety critic is open to the idea, whereas the NDP’s justice critic opposes any fee increase.

A pardon doesn’t erase a conviction, but it does allow people who have completed their sentences and shown that they are law-abiding to have their criminal record kept separate and apart from other criminal records.

If you are interested in starting the Pardon process, the time to act is now. While there is still uncertainty regarding if and when the new legislation will become law, what is certain is that the sooner you begin the process, the better your chances of having your application governed by the current legislation.

Waiting Period Prior to Pardon Eligibility Subject to Change

Under current legislation, the duration of the waiting period prior to your being eligible to submit your application for a pardon to the Parole Board of Canada depends on the nature of the offense, as follows:

 

• A summary non-sexual offense carries a 3-year waiting period.
• An indictable non-sexual offense or a summary sexual offense carries a 5-year waiting period.
• An indictable sexual offense or a personal injury offense, for which a sentence of 2 or more years was imposed, carries a 10-year waiting period.

 

This waiting period begins when your sentence has been completely fulfilled, and only when the waiting period has elapsed will the Parole Board of Canada accept your application. Bill C-23B currently before Parliament would make significant changes to these eligibility waiting periods, resulting in substantially longer eligibility waiting periods for prospective pardon applicants.

 

Under the proposed new legislation, the waiting period prior to eligibility would be extended to the following:

 

• A summary offense would carry a 5-year waiting period.
• An indictable offense would carry a 10-year waiting period.

 

Additionally, the new legislation extends the criteria that would render an applicant permanently ineligible for a pardon. Permanent ineligibility would apply to anyone:

 

• Who was convicted of any offense listed in Schedule 1 of the Criminal Records Act - broadly speaking, Schedule 1 of the Criminal Records Act consists of sexual offenses
• Who was convicted of more than 3 indictable offenses each carrying a sentence of two or more years

 

So what does this mean to you? It depends on how far into the Pardon process you are. Any applications acknowledged and accepted by the Parole Board of Canada prior to the new legislation passing will be governed by the current laws. What is still unknown is exactly if and when the new legislation will take effect. The new legislation is currently before Parliament, but the timelines for passage and what the final version will look like remain to be seen.

 

If you are interested in starting the Pardon process, the time to act is now. While there is still uncertainty regarding if and when the new legislation will become law, what is certain is that the sooner you begin the process, the better your chances of having your application governed by the current legislation.

 

Restorative Justice Deserves Greater Consideration

Restorative justice emphasizes repairing the harm caused by crime. When victims, offenders, and community members meet to decide how to do that, the results can be transformational. It is viewed as a process that improves upon the traditional criminal justice in that it has significant benefits:

• Rather than defining crime only as lawbreaking, it recognizes that offenders harm victims, communities, and even themselves.

• Rather than giving key roles only to government and offender, it includes victims and communities as well.

• Rather than measuring how much punishment has been inflicted, it measures how much harm has been repaired or prevented.

• Rather than leaving the problem of crime to the government alone, it recognizes the importance of community involvement and initiative in responding to and reducing crime.

The concept that true healing after a crime doesn’t necessarily come from harsher punishment but rather from the coming together of criminal and victim, giving them a chance to understand one another and work to repair the harm done.

In theory, this approach has merit, viewed strictly from an objective point of view. But when a victim is given the opportunity to be involved in such a program, the prospect of meeting with the offender could well be daunting. So a better understanding of the process would be helpful and beneficial for anyone concerned with the Federal Government’s Safe Streets and Community Act, Bill C-10.

Three principles form the foundation for restorative justice:

1. Justice requires that we work to restore those who have been injured.

2. Those most directly involved and affected by crime should have the opportunity to participate fully in the response if they wish.

3. Government’s role is to preserve a just public order, and the community is to build and maintain a just peace.

Resources for information on the process, when reviewed, show it to have great potential. Yet, although programs exist across Canada to facilitate such meetings, restorative justice hasn’t become widely accepted. Now some victims’ advocates fear such programs will be used even less often due to the federal government’s tough-on-crime agenda and its emphasis on incarceration. Of particular concern are the mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug and sex offences.

Measures introduced recently in the government’s sweeping omnibus crime bill interfere with judges’ abilities to tailor sentences and consider restorative-justice options. Mandatory minimums do not allow restorative justice to take place.

Understandably, for anyone wanting to get a pardon to clear his record, now is the time to act. Pardon Services Canada assists people in the process. A Client Specialist ensures that all the required forms are created and compiled to support the application. Pardon Services Canada’s pro-active approach ensures that each case is processed expeditiously and applicants are kept informed at each stage of the process.

Straightend Out, Moving On

The benefits of counseling, along with the support of family, cannot be fully realized and appreciated until a person needs to seek help.


Larry currently lives in Red Deer, Alberta, with his wife and teenage son. He strives each day to be a strong, positive influence in his son’s life. He owns his own home and has had steady employment for over 20 years. Now, with the prospect of retiring soon, his pardon has allowed him to gain peace of mind, closing once and for all that chapter of his life. He looks forward to traveling more comfortably, perhaps volunteering as well. He truly has moved on.

When he recalls the time when he had succumbed to the pressures the being involved with the wrong crowd, he is numbed. All the negative influences that controlled him were overpowering. He regularly used narcotics, and he became aggressive and antisocial. He eventually was charged and convicted for possession of narcotics, and then for the purpose of trafficking. The last blow came when he was charged and convicted for assault with a weapon.

His decision to undergo two years of counseling to straighten himself out was one of the best moves he’s ever made. His parents’ influence, in particular his father’s, helped him to reassess what is important in life. During this stage, his parents helped him to become a mature, respectable, productive member of society. Now, several years later, he realizes that family ties and good health are the two most important factors any person can have.

Pardon Services Canada assists people who want to obtain a pardon in order to do just that, put the past behind and move on. A Client Specialist ensures that all the required forms are created and compiled to support the application. Pardon Services Canada’s pro-active approach ensures that each case is processed expeditiously and applicants are kept informed at each stage of the process.

Speak to a Client Specialist – toll free at 1-8-NOW-PARDON (1.866.972.7366) – at Pardon Services Canada to guide you through the process.

Disclosing a Pardon for a Criminal Record Not Advisable

When a prospective employer requests a criminal record check through the Canadian Police Information Centre’s database, information about a pardoned conviction cannot be released.

Only one exception requires such disclosure, that being convictions for violent sexual or personal injury offences. These are “flagged” for vulnerable sector background checks. A vulnerable sector check will be performed for potential employees or volunteers who wish to work with children, ill or disabled people, or senior citizens.

The purpose of a pardon is to restrict access to a person’s criminal past, and once a pardon is granted, a conviction will not be disclosed on a background check. The person’s clean record is reinstated and there is no reason to ever have to admit it.

No one should ever feel compelled to volunteer information on a past conviction when a pardon has been granted. Unfortunately, sometimes when a person is asked directly if he has ever been convicted of a crime, the sense that honesty is the best policy prevails. He feels obliged to reveal that fact but to also state that he has received a pardon. However, is this decision wise?

In several Canadian provinces, human rights legislation prohibits discrimination based on a pardoned conviction. This protection may be theoretically guaranteed, but actual enforcement is not always assured. Discrimination based on other aspects such as gender, race, age, and disability is illegal, yet anecdotal evidence exists to show it is still practiced. Therefore, the reality is that a person who volunteers that he has a pardoned conviction will more than likely be passed over for someone else with a crime-free background.

Thus, if an employer poses any sort of question regarding the existence of a criminal record, anyone who has been granted a pardon can honestly reply that he has a clean criminal record. That pardon is a person’s vehicle with which he can wipe the slate clean, make a fresh start, and move on unencumbered.

Pardon Services Canada assists people who want to obtain a pardon in order to do just that, put the past behind and move on. A Client Specialist ensures that all the required forms are created and compiled to support the application. Pardon Services Canada’s pro-active approach ensures that each case is processed expeditiously and applicants are kept informed at each stage of the process.

Dusting for Prints – Increased Fingerprinting and Criminal Record Checks Delays Hiring

The prospect of having one’s fingerprints taken as part of the job application process can seem intimidating, to say the least. Not only could a person be taken aback to learn that all information provided on a resume and during an interview would not be sufficient to make a hiring decision, but he could also be somewhat unsettled to learn that a criminal record check, and sometimes a credit check as well, must be undertaken.

The RCMP’s Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), a national database, contains a range of useful information maintained primarily for law enforcement. Increasingly, though, it is also an important source of information for employers screening new hires and prospective promotions because it is the only national database of criminal records.

Alternatively, through a “local indices check,” a check of police files and occurrence reports within a region, a broad range of information can be provided. However, the RCMP has issued an interim policy directing what local police forces can say in response to basic searches based on a name and date of birth search alone. If an individual is found to have a record based on such a search, the response is to be:

Based solely on the name(s) and date of birth provided, a search of the National Criminal Records repository maintained by the RCMP could not be completed. In order to complete the request, the applicant is required to have fingerprints submitted to the National Criminal Records repository by an authorized police service or accredited private fingerprinting company. Positive identification that a criminal record may or may not exist at the National Criminal Records repository can only be confirmed by fingerprint comparison. Not all offences are reported to the National Criminal Records repository. A local indices check may or may not reveal criminal record convictions that have not been reported to the National Criminal Records repository.

This qualified statement is deemed necessary to ensure accurate identification. But there is no expeditious process to verify a criminal record. The RCMP’s current verification process can take more than 120 days to complete. The process requires the individual to go to a police station or other certified fingerprinting service. Furthermore, the results of this drawn out process are delivered to the employer – not the prospective employee – not allowing for a chance to explain or justify any erroneous circumstances.

This time factor has significant impact on employers to be sure. The potential delays in making hiring decisions will prove problematic: Will employers risk waiting to hire verified candidates, only to possibly lose them to other employers? Will they bear the risk of hiring non-verified applicants on an interim basis?

Employer reliance on local indices checks is concerning, to be sure. They take time, as we know, but they also leave questions about coverage and human rights compliance – the process needs to be fair and justifiable, both ethically and legally.

Avoid the issue before it becomes detrimental. Get a criminal record check and if there is a need and the situation allows apply for a Canadian Pardon – it is a right of every Canadian. With a pardon no employer will be able to see previous convictions on the search mentioned above. 

4.5 Million Need Not Apply – Criminal Records Catching Up With Canadians

             The myriad of job seekers in the post-recession economy was dealt another blow as revealed by a new report by the National Employment Law Project (NELP). The Report shows that 90% of companies use criminal background checks at some point in their hiring policies. The rise in the use of criminal record checks is now being coupled with stringent and unfair hiring policies in regards to previous criminal records. Companies such as Domino’s Pizza, Lowe’s and RadioShack have implemented policies that require applicants for positions to have “no criminal record. Period.” These employers alone comprise 415,400 jobs in Canada, the United States and abroad. Over 1 in 10 Canadians and 1 in 4 Americans have a criminal record. Many applicants have a record for minor offences that occurred years before and hold no bearing on the current position even so, they are not even considered.

                Labour advocacy groups have been arguing against the blanket restrictions on criminal records being imposed. Despite these calls to action the number of companies conducting background checks on applicants continues to grow. The argument that is put forward by advocates of the blanket restrictions is those corporations have a duty to provide a safe work environment for employees and customers. While this is true, a blanket restriction eliminates suitable candidates for discretions that are long since passed and currently have no bearing on the job or workplace security. The overall effect is detrimental to all parties as the possible pool of suitable employees is drastically reduced and the risk of recidivism and future crime is increased by unemployment.

                The recommendations that are made by labour advocates are sound. The restrictions on people with criminal records should be lessened to allow all suitable applicants the chance to apply for the betterment of the applicants and the corporations. There is an apparent need to protect job seekers from arbitrary, discriminatory and potentially illegal hiring practices.

                In Canada, the recourse against the wave of companies using background check lies in the realm of Pardon Services. Any Canadian can apply for a pardon if they have met the conditions and sentencing of the offence. Once obtained, a pardon can seal a criminal record from a corporation performing a background check. Through a pardon Canadians have the ability to leave their past behind them and continue towards a new job, career advancement, volunteer positions and a wealth of opportunities previously shut out because of a criminal record. 

Sun of a Beach...Criminal Record Limits Travel

Canadians love to travel. This fact is reflected in the number of Canadians currently holding valid Canadian passports increasing to 60 percent from only 36 percent in 2005. Although the recession in 2008 kept many from travelling the way they would have liked, some choosing to pursue the “staycation” while the economy was sluggish, the number of people traveling has since rebounded.

During the 2010/2011 winter travel season, 10 percent more Canadians travelled to the US than the previous year, with Hawaii proving to be the one of the most attractive places. The US is a top destination for Canadians. In fact, several US locations are currently on the list of the top 25 beaches in the world for 2011. Unfortunately for some would be travelers, a Canadian criminal record limits your ability to travel to the US.

Travelling abroad has also seen a resurgence. In the winter, Canadians love the sun, choosing R & R on beaches and cruises. And during the other seasons, destinations like Mexico, Cuba, Britain, and China are increasingly popular. To take advantage of lower flight costs, a significant number of Canadian travelers are now going to the US for flights to US destinations and around the world.

Quite apparent is the position that the US holds in all these ventures. A predominance of travel is either to or through the US. What a shame it is that so many Canadians cannot even consider pursuing their dream vacations because they have a criminal record. Only through getting a pardon to remove that criminal record and receiving a waiver to gain entry into the US will that dream become a reality.

Spun Out of Control. . . Man Regains Life After Record Suspension.

“Regret,” “remorse,” “anguish,” “self-reproach” – all these feelings hang heavy when one truly realizes the consequences of wrong doing.

No matter how minor or serious the circumstance may be that a troubled person is contending with, to feel a measure of relief when having overcome the consequences is uplifting.

Here is the story of one person having become successful in his personal life putting his past behind him.

In 1987, he was found guilty of having a blood alcohol level exceeding .08 while driving. His vehicle hit some gravel, spun out of control, and rolled over. He is so very thankful that there were no other vehicles or individuals involved. He deeply regrets this incident and has made many positive changes in his life as a result. He has not, since the date of his conviction, driven under the influence of alcohol. This event has been something he has had to live with for over twenty years.

He has two teenage children currently learning to drive and looking forward to attending university. He often reminds them of his circumstances and strongly encourages them to learn from his mistakes.

He currently teaches in workshops for corporate clients. He greatly enjoys educating adults and seeing how their careers benefit. Increasingly, organizations are asking for criminal background checks in order to do work through a vendor. This record suspension has allowed him to continue to educate and not limit his ability to earn a living.

If you are in similar circumstances yourself, Contact Pardon Services Canada for help. You too can gain the peace of mind that he most certainly has.

Seeking A Pardon Is The Only Recourse To Removing A Criminal Record.

Since 1970, over 400,000 Canadians have been issued pardons. 96% of those recipients have remained crime free in our communities. Why have so many Canadians endeavored to obtain their pardons, ridding themselves of their criminal records? Once people convicted of a crime have completed their sentence, paid their fine, or complied in any other way that the courts have ordered, shouldn’t they feel relieved? Shouldn’t they be able to put their mind at rest knowing that they have “paid their dues” and can now move forward and re-establish?

The fact is that everyone wants to undo errors in judgment that led them to having a criminal record. Get a new job, volunteer at their children’s school, coach a sports team, adopt a child, change one’s name, maintain custody of children during separation or divorce, these opportunities and others are not possible unless their criminal records are sealed through obtaining a pardon.

In addition, they most likely seek respite from the physiological and psychological impact of the burden that a criminal record causes. Not only do they want to move forward, they also want to gain peace of mind. When confronted with the procedure of undergoing a criminal record check while being considered for a promotion or a new job, while wishing to be able to volunteer for community endeavors, while worrying about friends or neighbours discovering the past: The stress can and does cause physical and psychological trauma. Anyone has the opportunity to have their record checked and should do so for peace of mind.

The RCMP is the only body in Canada with the authority to perform criminal record background checks. Employers are increasingly using criminal record checks, through the RCMP, when qualifying prospective and current employees for new hires and promotions. An otherwise qualified person can expect to be turned down, even if the conviction was for a seemingly insignificant offence that happened long ago. That record exists and can be seen by employers. Even more unsettling is the fact that some companies have started applying their new criminal record policies retroactively. Long-term employees have been dismissed because of a minor, old offence.

Receiving a pardon enables a person to live just as if he had never committed a crime – a pardoned crime will not be disclosed on a criminal record check provided by the RCMP. A clean criminal record is a requirement for moving forward, and applying for a pardon is the route to follow. Obtaining a pardon is a long process, so it’s best to start well in advance. Seeking the assistance of a pardon services specialist will make that process easier and provide the assurance needed.

The Pardon Services Canada Guide To Choosing Your Record Suspension Specialist.

If you have a criminal record, you already know that it can prohibit you from doing certain things. Areas that are typically affected include work, travel, volunteering, education and even adoption! That is, until enough time passes so that you qualify to apply for a record suspension.

The Canadian record suspension procedure also known as a pardon in Canada can be a very intimidating and a confusing experience for the average person. Questions like; ‘Where do I find information on the record suspension process?’, ‘Do I qualify for a record suspension?’, and ‘How does it take to get a record suspension?’ all come to mind.

Unless you are a lawyer, most likely you will need some type of help preparing your application for the Parole Board of Canada in Ottawa. If you choose to take this on yourself – good luck! But please remember a few things.

•  Different people require different record suspension documents.
•  Fingerprints are basic a requirement for every application – but there are two kinds!
•  You need to complete the right document package – different record suspension documents need to be provided in full, and can vary from person to person.
•  Every record suspension application is different. What is good for one record suspension application may not be enough for another.
•  A record suspension application needs to be properly prepared and fully completed.

You can try to do it all yourself, but why would you chance having your record suspension application returned because you forgot complete one very small but critical detail? Success or failure depends solely on how well your record suspension application is prepared. If your application is returned, you must wait one full year to apply again.

While the prospect of asking for help does not appeal to everyone, there comes a time when you need to stack the deck in your own favor. It’s better to team up with a record suspension specialist and give yourself the inside advantage.

So if you agree that you may need the help of a specialist, make sure that you team up with someone who has a successful track record, someone who can really guarantee that they can help you.

Ask these questions:

• How many years have you been obtaining record suspensions for your clients?
• What is you success rate?
• Will I be able to track the progress of my record suspension application? Where and how?
• Do you have customer service agents available to answer my questions over the phone?
• Where is your office located?
• Do you have client testimonials or references?
• Will you keep me up-to-date on my record suspension application as it progresses?
• How is my personal and private information handled?
• How can you guarantee my privacy?
• Why should I go with your company?

When it comes to clearing criminal records, Pardon Services Canada has been helping Canadians with confidential, fast and affordable service for over 20 years.

You can find out more information regarding your rights, and learn about easy steps to total freedom by visiting http://www.pardonservicescanada.com/. Stay in the loop with the latest record suspension news in Canada.

Pardon Services Canada can help you clear your good name.

A Straight Life Is The Best Life - Leading By Example

“Success”: favorable termination of attempts; attainment; triumph; fruition – the concept, regardless of how it is defined, always produces a positive, anticipating, elating feeling.

No matter how minor or serious the circumstance might be that a troubled person is contending with, to feel a measure of success when having overcome the consequences is uplifting to say the least.

Here is a brief story of a woman who, after overcoming a controlling drug addiction, has become successful and content and has gained a renewed sense of well being after receiving her Canadian pardon.

As a young woman she was introduced to drugs, which led to a life of destruction, as is so obvious. She worked hard to totally dissociate herself from all involvement with crime or past associates. She is very remorseful when looking back and realizing all those wasted years. She has not indulged in drugs or alcohol for nearly twenty years. Her goals now are to continue teach her family by example - that a straight life is the best life. And to continue to grow - by helping her community thus achieving self-fulfillment.

She has done a complete turnaround with the love and support of her family who have helped her overcome her past. She has lived a quiet life, caring for her grandson while her daughter worked and her elderly mother. She also taught illiterate adults to read and write, a most valuable experience as she was helping not only herself, but others as well.

A pardon from Pardon Services Canada has given her the freedom to travel with her family to the U.S. on holidays. She no longer lives with the fear of someone in the community finding out about her past, which she so regrets. She also has been given the opportunity to do volunteer work that her criminal record had previously prevented.

If you are in similar circumstances yourself, Contact Pardon Services Canada for help applying for and obtaining your Canadian criminal pardon. You too can gain the peace of mind and a second shot at living a life free of a criminal record.

Everyone makes mistakes. Don’t let your past limit your future.