Welcome to Canadian Pardon – Records Suspensions

The Canadian pardon (record suspension) program was designed to help people who were previously convicted of an offence, get opportunities and restart their lives again after serving their sentence. the Pardon or Record suspension helps ex-convicts avoid victimization, by preventing the authorities from using their records unnecessarily. This helps ex-convicts avoid getting back to crime due to lack of opportunities, brought about by records of their past offences. Research shows that opportunities help people stay away from repeat offences. It is therefore in the interest of the state through the Parole Board, to facilitate the reintegration of the ex-convict back into the society. The term Pardon/record suspension could easily be mistaken to mean that the records of the offences are deleted completely. The Canadian pardon record suspension program, only prevents the Canadian Police Information Center (CPIC), from giving out or accessing your records without the express consent from the Ministry of Public Safety. This helps prevent unnecessary queries which may lead to victimization or the blocking out of the individual from accessing certain privileges. So, the process involves the separation of the offence from the criminal records.

The term record suspension is a new, having replaced the old term Pardon, which is sometimes still used to mean record suspension. It’s necessary to have the term changed in order to avoid the ambiguity brought about by the association of the term ‘pardon’ to clemency. Traditionally, the term pardon was used to imply a presidential pardon or clemency. Many countries still use the term pardon, to mean a presidential pardon, which means the cancellation or forgiveness of a crime. Also, the name pardon, according to a dictionary definition, is synonymous with forgiveness. It is for this reason that compelled the authorities, especially the Parole Board, to have the name changed to something that describes the process more accurately. The new pardon program or Canadian record suspension program requires that each applicant fulfils certain stringent requirements in order to ensure that record suspension is given to a deserving individual. The following are a set of basic requirements that must be fulfilled before any application is sent to the parole office.

• The applicant must have completed their sentence and paid all fines that may have come along with the sentences. Applicants on parole must finish their parole sentence before they can apply.

• Must wait for a given period of time, depending on the kind of offence they were incarcerated for. The waiting period is generally 3 years for summary offences that were punishable by 6 months imprisonment or less or a $2000 fine, this does not include sexual offences against children. The applicant has to wait for 5 years for summary offences that are were punishable by more than 6 months in jail or a fin exceeding $2000.

• If the offence is a personal injury offence as defined by the criminal code, the applicant of the record suspension will have to wait for a period of 10 years. This includes manslaughter as laid out under section 752 of the criminal code.

These are minimum requirements needed that must be met, before the application for Canadian record suspension is made. Other considerations are made by the Parole Board to ensure the applicant is the right candidate for the federal pardon . The conduct of the criminal during the waiting period must be considered before the Parole Board issues a pardon. This means that, if the applicant was involved in minor incidences, such as speeding or other traffic offences, the applicant will have reduced his chances of getting the pardon. The circumstances leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual will also be considered. The National Parole Board will have to go back and look into the circumstances that led to the commission of the offence, arrest and conviction. First time offenders will also get a more favorable consideration than repeat offenders. The Canadian record suspension services, will ensure that your are eligible to apply either for the pardon or the waiver and to provide you with the latest information on the legislation’s changes. Canadian record suspension should not be confused with clemency or presidential pardon. It simply prevents an individual from being disqualified from seeking certain opportunities that that individual is entitled to as a citizen of Canada. These privileges may include applications for work or for a government contract. Canadian record suspension helps to guarantee certain rights of an ex-convict as stipulated under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms, states that, an individual should not be punished more than once for the same crime. Record suspension helps to prevent the authorities from using criminal records to punish an individual, even after he has served and completed his sentence. Helping ex-convicts access opportunities as normal citizens, helps to avoid repeat offences and crime in general.