What You Need To Know About Pardons/Record Suspensions:
A Pardon, or Record Suspension(RS) is the only way a criminal record can be set aside so the individual can be freed from the background baggage that may be preventing the full enjoyment of life.
Imagine getting the job you want rather than settling for one you can get. Maybe you want to move up the ladder in the line of work you’re in. Most businesses require their employees to get a CPIC (pronounced, ‘See-Pick’ and stands for Canadian Police Information Centre – sometimes simply called a background check) even when being promoted from within the company. Want to volunteer at your church, school or hospital? An rs can help with that. Would you like to adopt? There are many more reasons for a record suspension. Mostly though, people want peace of mind.
Getting a record suspension today is just like getting a pardon in days gone by. True, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) uses slightly different language, the waiting periods to qualify are longer and there are some offences for which a person will forever be ineligible, but at Impact Pardons, we know the new rules and regulations; we work within PBC guidelines every day for each of our clients.
In order to get a brighter future, we must search past documents and records to ensure each of our clients qualifies under the new guidelines. IPP has studied the changes to the Criminal Records Act (CRA) under Bill C-10 and together, we will ensure moving forward with your application is the right thing to do.
About the recent Changes
As of October 24, 2013 under Section 737 of the Criminal Code, unpaid, outstanding victim surcharges will no longer be considered when reviewing your eligibility for a record suspension/pardon. All other fines and surcharges must still be paid in full.
Currently and as of now, only in Ontario and British Columbia the terms of reference have changed.
Ref 1. On or before Jun 28, 2010 your application will now be considered under pardon regulations. i.e. 3-year or a 5-year waiting period.
Ref 2. Between June 29, 2010 and March 12, 2012 a 10 year waiting period has been added for serious personal injury and Schedule 1 offences prosecuted by indictment. Schedule 1 offences prosecuted by summarily, will require a 5 year waiting period. Other summery offences will require a 3 year waiting period.
Ref 3. On or after March 13, 2012 the waiting period is 10 years for offences prosecuted by indictment, 5 years for offences prosecuted by summary conviction and a person will be ineligible for a record suspension or pardon, if convicted of a Schedule 1 offence or if the individual has been convicted of more than three offences prosecuted by indictment, which resulted in a sentence of two years or more. *Note: the judge does the offender a great service by sentencing, “two years, less a day”.
Impact Pardons Disbursements
Additional fees common for all rs applications include:
- Fingerprint Fee
- RCMP Criminal Record Search
- Court Documents
- Local Police Records Check, and
- $631.00 Parole Board of Canada Processing Fee
Where you have lived in the last 5 years, where you were charged, how you were charged and are records still available are some of the factors that must be considered in every individual rs application. These variables can change the final cost of a record suspension by as much as 20 to 40 percent. Other disbursements that may apply, include:
- Library and archives searches
- Affidavits
- Background checks
- Consultation fees
The application preparation fee for Impact Pardons is the same for everyone; it’s the disbursements required that make each rs application unique.
