Criminal
Pardons
Are you Eligible for a Criminal Record Suspension?
If you have been convicted of (a) crime(s) in Canada or your record was transferred to Canada, you can apply for a record suspension at the Parole Board of Canada after you have completed all of your sentences AND after a certain waiting period, as set out in the Criminal Records Act.
Our agency prepares all the necessary steps to obtain a record suspension ( Canadian Pardon). This service includes the following:
- Fingerprinting to obtain your complete criminal record from RCMP
- Consultation for record suspension eligibility
- Collection and storage of supporting documents, follow-up on file and documents as needed
- Submission of documents to the Parole Board and follow-up on the status of the application
To find out more about getting a criminal record suspension and to get started on the process, contact us today.
Requirements For A Criminal Record Suspension
As stated on the Parole Board of Canada website, you can apply for a Record Suspension if you:
- Were convicted of an offence in Canada under a federal act or regulation of Canada as an adult
- Were convicted of a crime in another country and were transferred to Canada under the Transfer of Offenders Act or International Transfer of Offenders Act
To apply for a record suspension, you must have completed all of your sentences, which includes:
- All fines, surcharges, costs, restitution and compensation orders
- All sentences of imprisonment, conditional sentences, including parole and statutory release
- Any probation order(s)
After completing all of your sentences, you must have completed a waiting period:
- 5 years for a summary offence (or a service offence under the National Defence Act)
- 10 years for an indictable offence (or a service offence under the National Defence Act for which you were fined more than $5,000, detained or imprisoned for more than 6 months)
Victim surcharges imposed under section 737 of the Criminal Code on or after October 24, 2013 and on or before December 13, 2018 will not be considered in determining eligibility for a record suspension.
Who is not eligible for a record suspension?
You are not eligible for a record suspension if you have been convicted of:
- A Schedule 1 Offence (offence involving a child) under the Criminal Records Act
- More than three (3) offences prosecuted by indictment, each with a prison sentence of two (2) years or more
If you are unsure as to your eligibility for criminal record suspension please contact us so that we can help determine eligibility – and begin the process should you be eligible for a criminal record suspension.
