Are you wondering how to get a pardon in Ontario?
We all make mistakes. However, we grow over our mistakes; we accept the consequences, bear with them and come out as a better people.
Some mistakes may lead to a criminal offense. These mistakes are the ones that stay with you forever with consequences that make it impossible to ignore.
However, you can still put criminal convictions behind your back by putting into place a Record Suspension (formerly referred to as ‘Pardon’).
Don’t worry if you aren’t aware of Canadian National Pardon services and the terminologies relating to the same; in this article, we’ll be covering this topic in depth. Getting DUI Pardon In Ontario is also important.
What is a Record Suspension (Pardon)?
According to Canadian Legal Resource Centre Inc., a person who has been convicted of a criminal offense in Ontario (or anywhere else in Canada), is at a higher risk of discrimination involving:
A Record Suspension or pardon In Ontario allows people to have their criminal records kept separate and apart from other criminal records, provided they have completed the necessary eligibility requirements.
A Record Suspension removes a person records from the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database.
ARecord Suspensionis very important in order for people to have a fresh start and continue through life as if they have never had a problem with the Police before.
Here’s another important takeaway: Under the Criminal Records Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-47), the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) holds the authority to order a Record Suspension for the convictions mentioned either under the Federal Acts or Regulations of Canada.
Why is Getting a Canadian Pardon In Ontario Important?
If a person is convicted of a criminal offense in Ontario, Canada, his or her name is tied to the RCMP’s national database; any name in this database is exposed to background checks unless a record suspension is granted.
And again, for those who don’t know about RCMP-
‘The RCMP, is both a federal and national police force in Canada.’
Whether a person is convicted of one or multiple crimes, his fingerprints, police files and other details remain in the system. As stated above, this can lead to a higher risk of discrimination in several areas.
A Record Suspension is important for it allows a person to seal the criminal record associated with their name. Therefore, that person can proceed through life as if they have never had a criminal record in the first place.
Who can Apply for a Record Suspension In Ontario?
A person can also apply for a Record Suspension if he’s committed a crime in another country, but it’s only possible if the same person was transferred to Canada under the Transfer of Offenders Act or International Transfer of Offenders Act.
However, there are certain eligibility requirements that one must meet before applying for a Pardon in Canada.
As of 2012, a person is not eligible to apply for a Record Suspension if he’s convicted of:
- A Schedule 1 Offense under the Criminal Records Act; In particular, a person convicted of a sexual offense involving a child is no longer eligible to file a Canadian pardon. Unless the conviction was before March 2012.
- Anyone who is prosecuted with or more than three offenses, each with a prison sentence of two years or more is also not eligible to file a Canadian pardon.
Depending upon the conviction and sentence, a person might be asked to submit additional documents, including but not limited to the Court Information, Proof of Conviction, Military Conduct Sheet, and Immigration Documents.
When Can a Person Apply For Record Suspension?
A person is eligible to apply for a Canadian Pardon only if he/she has completed all the sentences followed by the waiting period.
In addition, a person needs to fulfill the following requirements:
- He should have paid all the fines, surcharges and the costs associated with restitution and compensation orders.
- He must have served all the sentences of imprisonment, followed by all the conditional sentence orders, including parole or statutory release.
- He is ought to complete any probation order(s).
If a person had completed all the aforementioned requirements, he/she must also complete the prescribed waiting period(s); the waiting period for different offenses are as follows:
- A period of greater than or equal to 5 years in case of “Summary Offense”.
- A period of greater than or equal to 10 years in case of “Indictable Offense”.
According to the legislation, the convicted person must have completed the following waiting periods:
- 5 years of Summary conviction under the Criminal Code (excluding the offense listed either in Schedule 1 of the C.R.A or the Federal Act.
- 5 years from the date of the Summary conviction being satisfied.
- 10 year of Indictable conviction (excluding the offense listed under the Schedule 1 of the C.R.A).
- 10 years from the date of the indictable offense being satisfied (s 725 C.C).
- Both 5 and 10 years for all convictions by a Canadian offender, who had been transferred to Canada under the Transfer of Offenders Act or International Transfer of Offenders Act.
How Long Does It Take To File A Record Suspension In Ontario?
Prior to submitting your Record Suspension application to the Parole Board of Canada, it can take up to 4 to 6 months just in the preparation of the application and obtain the supporting documents.
The preparation time depends on several factors, including how quickly RCMP processes a person’s fingerprints, how quickly backlogs of local police and courthouse(s) are collected, and whether or not the criminal record matches the court documents.
Once the application is prepared, it’s submitted to the PBC. The Parole board processes the application in the following service standards:
- Applications with summary offenses are processed within 6 months of the application acceptance.
- Applications with indictment offenses are processed within 12 months of application acceptance.
How Much Does It Cost To Apply For A Record Suspension In Ontario?
It costs $631 to file a Record Suspension in Ontario, Canada. But that’s just the application cost. A person filing a pardon has to bear several other expenses, including but not limited to criminal records, local police records and checks, court documents and immigration records.
The Canadian government has steadily increased the Pardon application fee. What was once $50 was later hiked to $150 and then quadrupled to $631 in 2012. We are currently fighting the increase in fee’s as we do not believe the Record Suspension (Pardon) is only for the rich.
We have developed comprehensive payment plans that allow anybody living on a low or fixed income to afford the privilege of having their criminal record sealed.
