A Record Suspension (formerly called a pardon) is an order that keeps a person’s criminal record (of convictions) separate and apart from other criminal records. This means a person’s convictions will not be revealed on criminal record checks. It does not erase a criminal record.Record suspensions allow people who have made positive life changes to be freed from many of the negative impacts of having a criminal record.

As of 2012, you are no longer eligible for a record suspension if you have been convicted of:

• a Schedule 1 Offence (sexual 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.

You can apply for a pardon only if you meet all 3 of the following conditions. There are no exceptions.

1. You have completed your sentence, meaning you completed paying any fines, surcharges, compensation and restitution orders, completed any probation orders or conditional sentence, and served all of your sentence including parole/ statutory release;
2. You have met the required wait times:· 5 years for a summary offence (or a service of- fence under the National Defence Act); or· 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).
3. You have been of ‘good conduct,’ have not been convicted of any new offences, and have no new charges or outstanding fees (including traffic tick- ets).

Get a Record Suspension Application Guide and Form from the Parole Board of Canada. Print one out from:

www.pbc-clcc.gc.ca

The application process is described in the Application Guide. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully. The process involves:

Depending on your conviction and sentence, you may also need to submit your Court Information, Proof of Conviction, Military Conduct Sheet or Immigration documents. There are costs associated with obtaining these documents. Some Ontario Works offices will pay for part or all of the cost of obtaining a record suspension.

If you have submitted your application after February 2012, the Parole Board of Canada will generally make a decision about your application within 6 months for summary offences, and within 12 months for indictable offences.

Certain criminal records may exclude you from travel into some countries. A Waiver is a document, issued by the country to which you would like to travel, allowing you to enter even if you do not meet the entry requirements. For example, the United States restricts entry for people who have been convicted of certain crimes. You can find a list of what these crimes are at www.state.gov

If you have a record of one of these crimes, you will need a Waiver of Inadmissibility to enter the US. Never try to travel to the US if you are excluded: you could be detained, fined, charged or incarcerated.

The waiver is issued by US Customs & Border Protection (CBP), an agency of the Department of Homeland Security, and carries a short term. You can apply by filling out Form I-192 and submitting the required documents. The list of crimes, Application Form and instructions can be found on the US Citizenship & Immigration website: www.uscis.gov and the application is submitted at a CBP Port of Entry.

The application process can take up to a year and is expensive. The costs will depend on the types of documents you need to submit, but the application itself costs $585.00 US (as of 2012).

If you have obtained a record suspension, you may still need a waiver to travel to the US. Border officials may have access to different kinds of information than Canadian police and do not recognize a Canadian Record Suspension. Even a conditional discharge for certain offences can exclude you from entry.

For more information, read the CBP website: www.state.gov, contact your nearest Port of Entry, or call the Pearson Airport CBP Centre: 905- 676-2606.

You may have seen ads for companies that say they can get you a record suspension faster, easier or “guaranteed.” The truth is, it’s impossible for them to speed up or guarantee the process or outcome. The eligibility requirements and process are the same for everyone, no matter if they apply through a company or on their own — everyone gets the same consideration. You do not have to pay a private company or a lawyer to obtain a record suspension, you can go through the process yourself and only pay the document and application fees.

However, if you’re having difficulty with the process and would like some assistance, try getting information and help from:

• The Parole Board of Canada helpline (toll- free): 1-800-874-2652
• Your local John Howard Society (see list of local office above). Assistance is provided on a fee-for-service or sliding scale basis. Call your local office for specific information about the services offered there.