| So how do you get a pardon in Canada? | | | | providers such as Express Pardons. Essentially, |
| I am asked this question virtually everyday by | | | | you can hire a professional service to guarantee |
| people I meet, or visitors to my blog, when I tell | | | | your pardon for as little as $395. |
| them that I work with Express Pardons to help | | | | Of course, if you simply don't have any money to |
| clear criminal records for our clients. | | | | have your file professionally prepared, then you |
| Not many people know, but over three million | | | | don't have much choice but to do it own your |
| Canadians have a criminal record of some form | | | | own. This is a problem for a number of people |
| or another. Thats a lot of criminal records. | | | | who require a pardon, since they are out of work |
| Whether it is a theft, assault, or drinking and | | | | because of their criminal record. It's a vicious circle: |
| driving offence, about one in every ten Canadians | | | | can't get a job without a pardon, can't afford a |
| have a criminal record. | | | | pardon without a decent job. |
| Think about that for a second. If you know ten | | | | If you are one of these unfortunate people, and |
| people, chances are one of them has a criminal | | | | you can't afford $395, even on a payment plan, |
| offence in their past. If you have a record, you | | | | then you will have to work it out on your own. |
| are certainly not alone! | | | | Here are some times to help you along your way. |
| So how exactly do you get a pardon? | | | | Applying for a Pardon in Canada |
| Fortunately, the Canadian government, in its | | | | The first step in applying for a pardon is to obtain |
| occasional wisdom, saw fit to create a section in | | | | your certified criminal record from the RCMP |
| the Criminal Code which allows the federal | | | | Identification Services in Ottawa. You will need to |
| government to issue a pardon for any Canadian | | | | obtain a set of fingerprints for the purpose of a |
| that has demonstrated they are of good | | | | pardon from your local police, or from an |
| character and remain law-abiding citizens (shown | | | | electronic fingerprinting agency, such as IFS |
| they are not likely to re-offend) for a certain | | | | Canada. Electronic fingerprinting is more expensive |
| number of years since their last offence. In other | | | | but is preferable because it speeds up the pardon |
| words, if it has been three years since your last | | | | process by using the new CCRTIS system at the |
| minor offence, or 5 years since a more serious | | | | RCMP. |
| offence, you are eligible to be considered for a | | | | Once you have obtained your fingerprints, you |
| pardon. | | | | must send it to the RCMP Identification Service, |
| The process of obtaining a pardon can be | | | | Civil Section in Ottawa, along with a $25 money |
| complex (imagine doing a complicated tax return, | | | | order, made payable to the "Receiver General of |
| which takes up to 8 months or more to | | | | Canada". |
| complete) but it can be done. | | | | In return, you will receive a certified copy of your |
| The first thing you need to consider is whether | | | | criminal record, as it appears on the Canadian |
| you want to do it own your own, or have it done | | | | Police Information Centre, along with a "civil |
| professionally. Many Canadians do apply for a | | | | product" which has 4 of your fingerprints, along |
| pardon on their own. This is often encouraged by | | | | with RCMP disclosure details. |
| local police, particularly in light of the exorbitant | | | | Congratulations, you have just completed the first |
| fees charged by some pardon service companies | | | | step along the way to obtaining a Canadian |
| and lawyers. Unfortunately, they are statistically | | | | pardon. Now you want to review your criminal |
| much less likely to succeed. Many applications are | | | | record to ensure that it contains all of your |
| rejected by the Pardons Board because they are | | | | criminal record. In more than 15% of cases, there |
| incomplete or incorrectly prepared. Also, many | | | | will be charges missing from your record. If this is |
| individuals who attempted to complete the | | | | the case, you will have to obtain proofs of |
| application on their own never end up finishing the | | | | convictions from court archives. Proof of |
| process. I know because they are now some of | | | | conviction means obtaining certified true copies of |
| our clients. It's easy to forget the paperwork on | | | | the originating "court information' sheets from |
| top of your fridge for months at a time, and by | | | | your original trial. Otherwise, for offences that |
| the time you return to the work, it has already | | | | appear on your criminal record, you will need to |
| expired and you must start over. | | | | have the courts complete and certify pardon |
| The advantage of a professional service is really | | | | court information forms bearing your unique |
| two-fold. One, they can do it much faster, as | | | | parole board ID number. |
| they already have the contacts and knowledge of | | | | In my next article, we'll discuss step 2 in obtaining |
| the process to streamline your application. Two, | | | | your pardon in Canada. If you are working |
| because of their experience, they can usually | | | | through a pardon, or just considering getting |
| guarantee it. Plus, they do the work for you. | | | | started, you really ought to consider a low-cost |
| Depending on how much you value your own | | | | pardon service company such as Express |
| time, lets say $20/hr, you will be spending more | | | | Pardons. It is always a good idea to seek |
| money in your own time then you would be | | | | professional help with something as important to |
| spending on one of the lower cost pardon service | | | | your life as clearing your criminal record. |