What is a Records Suspension?

Records Suspensions are issued by the Parole Board of Canada under the Criminal Records Act.  A record suspension allows people who were convicted of a criminal offence, but have completed their sentence and demonstrated that they are law-abiding citizens for a prescribed number of years, to have their criminal record kept separate and apart from other criminal records.   A record suspension removes a person's criminal record from the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database.  This means that a search of CPIC will not show that the individual has a criminal record or a record suspension.

A Record Suspension may be granted, denied or revoked by the Parole Board of Canada.

Note: As of March 13, 2012, the term "pardon" was replaced with "record suspension".

How Do I Apply?

Please visit the Parole Board of Canada web site.  You do not need to use a lawyer or third party service provider.

Local Police Records Check (Step 4 in the Parole Board of Canada's Guide)

Get a local police records check (LPRC) from the Niagara Regional Police Service if you currently reside in the Niagara Region, or if you resided in the Region during the past five years.  If you lived outside of the Niagara Region, you will need to get additional local police records checks from each police agency where you lived (in the last five years).  Each local police records check is only valid for twelve months from the date it was issued.  An application for the Niagara Regional Police Service to complete a LPRC must be made using the NRPS Local Police Records Check for Record Suspension form, by the person to whom the records relate or by a person authorized in writing by that person.

To inquire about the status of your Niagara Regional Police Service local police records check application, please call 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1024389.

Fees

$ 75 - Local police records check from the Niagara Regional Police Service 

$ 25 - RCMP certified copy of criminal record

$ 50 - Parole Board of Canada application fee

IMPORTANT NOTICE - Payment Policy Adjustment -  Please be advised that effective October 1, 2018 payment to the Niagara Regional Police Service may be made by Debit, Visa or MasterCard.  Cash will no longer be accepted.

Fingerprinting

The Niagara Regional Police Service does not fingerprint for record suspension applications.  Local companies who are available to provide fingerprint services for applicants to complete the requirement of submission of fingerprints to the RCMP can be found online.

Determining your eligibility to apply for a record suspension/pardon

On or before June 28, 2010:

Your application will be assessed against this Criminal Records Act criteria:

Eligibility criteria:  After the expiration of any sentence including imprisonment, probation and the payment of any fine(s), the waiting period is:

  • 5 years – an offence prosecuted by indictment.
  • 3 years – an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Between June 29, 2010 and March 12, 2012:

Your application will be assessed against this Criminal Records Act criteria:

Eligibility criteria:  After the expiration of any sentence including imprisonment, probation and the payment of any fine(s), the waiting period is:

  • 10 years – Serious personal injury offence (within the meaning of  Section 752 of the Criminal Code), including manslaughter, for which the applicant was sentenced to a prison term of 2 years or more, or an offence referred to in Schedule 1 that was prosecuted by indictment.
  • 5 years – any other offence prosecuted by indictment and an offence referred to in Schedule 1 that is punishable on summary conviction.
  • 3 years – an offence other than the ones mentioned above, that is punishable on summary conviction.

On or after March 13, 2012:

Your application will be assessed against the current Criminal Records Act criteria:

Eligibility criteria:  After the expiration of any sentence including imprisonment, probation and the payment of any fine(s), the waiting period is:

  • 10 years – an offence prosecuted by indictment.
  • 5 years – an offence that is punishable on summary conviction.

A person is ineligible if they:

  • have been convicted of an offence referred to in Schedule 1;
  • have been convicted of more than three offences prosecuted by indictment, each with a sentence of two years or more.

*While the Parole Board of Canada’s (PBC) application forms require information about your conviction date(s), your application will be assessed based on your first offence date.  If you know the date of your first offence, please include it with your application package.  If you do not know this date, the PBC will try to find it.  If needed, PBC will adjust how your application is processed in order to match the appropriate legislation.