There was a scam in the news last night where a man claimed he could do a background check on your criminal record. He was advertising this supposed service through Craigslist. He took the cash and ran.
The man was eventually caught by RCMP and forced to return some of the money. They were adamant in stating that only the police are able to conduct criminal record checks.
This is true. While the police handle the background checks, we can coordinate the services for you. This was not the case with the Craigslist scammer. Be very careful with whom you trust regarding your past.
Don’t leave your freedom in just anyone’s hands. Only Pardon Services Canada has 20 years of experience dealing with criminal records. We are the ones you can trust when it comes to handling your past with discretion.
Traveling with a Criminal Record 2
Numerous Canadians have traveled abroad with a criminal record and have not experienced any trouble resulting from their record(s). Unfortunately, this can often lead to a false sense of security regarding the risk of traveling with a criminal record. Virtually all countries of the world have various laws prohibiting or discouraging entry with a criminal history, with certain exceptions made for certain offences.
Outside of the United States, no other countries have negotiated access to CPIC, Canada's federally managed criminal record repository. For this reason, these countries do not typically take an interest in checking on short term visitors. The process to check on visitors through their embassy being rather burdensome. As a rule of thumb, if a traveler is entering the country for less than a month, they will not have their background checked.
However, in those rare cases that a traveler is checked, the consequences of having a record can be devastating, often way beyond what one would expect for simply traveling with, say, a 20+ year old criminal record.
Take the case of a recent unfortunate Canadian man from Maple Ridge, British Columbia. On an all inclusive vacation to Mexico in early 2008, he was involved in a minor altercation in a Mexican night club frequented by both tourists and locals. After the Mexican police looked into the man's file in Canada, and found a criminal history, he was arrested and detained, pending an investigation. Despite his innocence of any crime (at least not serious), he remains in Mexican prison to this day, having yet to even appear before a judge. His family is desperately trying to free him, but in the mean time, they pay several hundred dollars a month just to keep him alive. Such is the fate of numerous Canadians and other foreigners in many South American countries, where the support payments are coveted. People with criminal records are often the subject of discrimination here in Canada, but when overseas, the problem and consequence is multiplied many fold.
Considering the risk, it is always advisable to clear your criminal record with a Pardon before any foreign trip.
Outside of the United States, no other countries have negotiated access to CPIC, Canada's federally managed criminal record repository. For this reason, these countries do not typically take an interest in checking on short term visitors. The process to check on visitors through their embassy being rather burdensome. As a rule of thumb, if a traveler is entering the country for less than a month, they will not have their background checked.
However, in those rare cases that a traveler is checked, the consequences of having a record can be devastating, often way beyond what one would expect for simply traveling with, say, a 20+ year old criminal record.
Take the case of a recent unfortunate Canadian man from Maple Ridge, British Columbia. On an all inclusive vacation to Mexico in early 2008, he was involved in a minor altercation in a Mexican night club frequented by both tourists and locals. After the Mexican police looked into the man's file in Canada, and found a criminal history, he was arrested and detained, pending an investigation. Despite his innocence of any crime (at least not serious), he remains in Mexican prison to this day, having yet to even appear before a judge. His family is desperately trying to free him, but in the mean time, they pay several hundred dollars a month just to keep him alive. Such is the fate of numerous Canadians and other foreigners in many South American countries, where the support payments are coveted. People with criminal records are often the subject of discrimination here in Canada, but when overseas, the problem and consequence is multiplied many fold.
Considering the risk, it is always advisable to clear your criminal record with a Pardon before any foreign trip.
Travelling with a Criminal Record
There are many countries that do not welcome foreigners with criminal records.
Japan, Australia, Sweden, and even Canada can block entry to those with records. However, the incidences of Canadians being stopped at the American border far surpass that of any other country. This is because the United States is more vigilant and has easy, direct access to the CPIC.
The Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) is administered by the RCMP. It is a repository of almost all of the information collected by police forces across the country. United States law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) enjoy full access to these files. If a Canadian is passing through an American border, and their record is known, they may be detained on the spot, or turned back.
Because other countries do not have the same record-sharing through the CPIC, they are much less likely to catch someone with a criminal record at the border.
If a Canadian wants to cross the border into the States when their record is on file, they must apply for an Entry Waiver. If they have a record, but the United States is not aware, then a pardon is advisable. Therefore, it is important to gain a pardon, and expunge your record, before it appears on the CPIC database.
Japan, Australia, Sweden, and even Canada can block entry to those with records. However, the incidences of Canadians being stopped at the American border far surpass that of any other country. This is because the United States is more vigilant and has easy, direct access to the CPIC.
The Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) is administered by the RCMP. It is a repository of almost all of the information collected by police forces across the country. United States law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) enjoy full access to these files. If a Canadian is passing through an American border, and their record is known, they may be detained on the spot, or turned back.
Because other countries do not have the same record-sharing through the CPIC, they are much less likely to catch someone with a criminal record at the border.
If a Canadian wants to cross the border into the States when their record is on file, they must apply for an Entry Waiver. If they have a record, but the United States is not aware, then a pardon is advisable. Therefore, it is important to gain a pardon, and expunge your record, before it appears on the CPIC database.
George Bush Pardons 14
In the twilight of his presidency, George W. Bush pardoned 14 yesterday. There was no Martha Stewart or Conrad Black or Marion Jones, but records were cleared for 14 whom had shown model behaviour since their sentencing.
I don't have a criminal record...or do I?
Many people in Canada are not even aware of their criminal record.
A common misconception is that a record will automatically disappear after a certain amount of time. This is not true. It is something that must be dealt with otherwise it could potentially hurt your chances of getting a job, a promotion, or may even lead to your future detainment or deportation from another country.
Some people may have been arrested once and released, and not charged, fined, or punished, and yet still may have a file in a database without their knowing. This can get them turned back at the border, or even arrested, or create problems later on.
Look into it. All you may need is a criminal record purge
A common misconception is that a record will automatically disappear after a certain amount of time. This is not true. It is something that must be dealt with otherwise it could potentially hurt your chances of getting a job, a promotion, or may even lead to your future detainment or deportation from another country.
Some people may have been arrested once and released, and not charged, fined, or punished, and yet still may have a file in a database without their knowing. This can get them turned back at the border, or even arrested, or create problems later on.
Look into it. All you may need is a criminal record purge
Ball and Chain
Pardon Services Canada understands how a criminal record can be like a ball and chain. In fact we have taken the ball and chain metaphor to the extreme. We have it in our ads, we have it on our website.
A ball and chain is a limit to freedom. A ball and chain is a symbol of suppression. A ball and chain is a sign that you are still under the control of a system.
Pardon Services Canada represents the key, to open the lock, and set you free from your ball and chain once and for all.
A ball and chain is a limit to freedom. A ball and chain is a symbol of suppression. A ball and chain is a sign that you are still under the control of a system.
Pardon Services Canada represents the key, to open the lock, and set you free from your ball and chain once and for all.
Question of the Week
Q.
Where can I go to find out if I still have a criminal record? It was a minor offence that happened over 20 years ago. Aren't minor offences automatically deleted by the authorities after a certain number of years?
A.
No. In Canada most criminal records are on file forever. Even after your death. That is, unless you obtain a pardon. The charges that get removed are conditional/absolute discharges and youth convictions. For more information look to our FAQ section on the website.
If you like, we provide a Canadian criminal record search function. We charge $150 for this, and it allows you to see what others see.
Where can I go to find out if I still have a criminal record? It was a minor offence that happened over 20 years ago. Aren't minor offences automatically deleted by the authorities after a certain number of years?
A.
No. In Canada most criminal records are on file forever. Even after your death. That is, unless you obtain a pardon. The charges that get removed are conditional/absolute discharges and youth convictions. For more information look to our FAQ section on the website.
If you like, we provide a Canadian criminal record search function. We charge $150 for this, and it allows you to see what others see.
Criminal Record Confusion
A few more articles are out:
Pardons in an Unforgiving Economy
Clearing Up More Confusion about Canadian Criminal Records
Pardons in an Unforgiving Economy
Clearing Up More Confusion about Canadian Criminal Records
In Other News...
Here is an interesting article: Police Dealing with Increased Demand for Reference Checks
Criminal Records and Voting in the United States
Here is a campaign put out by The Florida Rights Restoration Commission to notify Americans with criminal records that they can still have a voice, and vote in the upcoming election.
Read the comments below the ad, they offer some insight into a few of the misconceptions about criminal records that we see here every day.
Pardon Me, Canada link
Read the comments below the ad, they offer some insight into a few of the misconceptions about criminal records that we see here every day.
Pardon Me, Canada link
Question of the Week
Q.
If I already have a pardon and I commit a new offence, can I apply for a pardon again?
A.
Your whole record will be sealed when you apply for a new pardon, however you will have to demonstrate 3-5 years of being an upstanding citizen, after the completion of your last sentence.
If I already have a pardon and I commit a new offence, can I apply for a pardon again?
A.
Your whole record will be sealed when you apply for a new pardon, however you will have to demonstrate 3-5 years of being an upstanding citizen, after the completion of your last sentence.
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