Getting A Criminal Record Check In Canada? Here’s What You Need To Know.

We all know that one of the basic requirements for getting employment, immigration, volunteering, or adopting in Canada is a criminal record check document. Obtaining legal government authorization can be daunting, especially for those who are unsure where to turn for guidance. This article is your one-stop show for all you need regarding criminal record checks in Canada.

Before diving deep, it is essential to understand what constitutes a criminal record check in Canada. 

What is a criminal record check?

A criminal record check verifies whether an individual has a criminal history. It involves searching national and local databases to identify criminal convictions or charges associated with the person. The Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), Canada's central repository for criminal records, is run by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Additionally, local police departments keep their records, which can contain more details that are unavailable in CPIC.

1.Name-Based Criminal Record Check: As the name suggests, this check uses the name and date of birth as inputs to run through the criminal records in the CPIC system. It is commonly used for employment in areas not involving working with the vulnerable sector. It is the basic form of a check that is also called by the names:

• CRC: Criminal record check
• PRC: Police record check
• CPRC: Criminal police record check

Who conducts the name-based criminal record check in Canada?

This type of check can be conducted by the local police, detachment centres, provincial police, or third-party companies that have signed an MOU with the police to perform it.

Limitations: This check may not be conclusive if there are people with the same date of birth and name in the records. In that case, your employers may ask you to get a fingerprint-based check done again for better clarity.

2.Enhanced Police Information Check:  An enhanced police information check includes the details mentioned in a name-based check, along with outstanding charges, warrants, and judicial orders. This check is called a CRJMC (Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check). It is mainly conducted for candidates who apply for positions of trust, including those in the finance and security sectors.

Who conducts the CRJMC or enhanced police information check in Canada?

The local police, provincial police, detachment centers, or third-party businesses that have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the police can all conduct this type of check.

3.Vulnerable Sector Check:  Those who work with vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, or people with disabilities, ought to undergo this check. It includes local police information and a search for sexual offenses that have been pardoned. This check is conducted for positions such as teachers, healthcare workers, and childcare providers, among others.

Limitations: If the result is inconclusive or shows a discrepancy from the information shared by the candidate, the authorities can request a fingerprint-based check for further clarification.

Who conducts the vulnerable sector check in Canada?

This check can only be conducted by the local police in Canada. If you are applying from outside Canada, you must ask your local authorities to perform this check and certify your eligibility for this role. In most cases, fingerprints are taken to ensure the highest level of scrutiny before deploying people to care for kids and vulnerable adults.

4.Fingerprint-based check: 

Who conducts the fingerprint-based check in Canada?

The leading authority for conducting fingerprint-based checks is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). For fingerprint-based checks, candidates must provide their prints at a local police station, RCMP detachment centre, or third-party accredited centre. Companies authorised to take your information on behalf of the RCMP for a faster, solution-oriented process. 

Since the criminal record check is valid, Canadian residents will occasionally need to obtain one.

In Canada

• Local Police Station: Some police stations in Canada offer two options for applying for a criminal record check: online and in-person applications. Depending on the station's foot traffic, they may ask you to apply online or call you for an in-person application on a specified date, which will be arranged by appointment.
• Detachment Centres: In some remote areas of Canada, RCMP detachment centres have been established solely to facilitate criminal record checks. You can visit these centres to undergo the required check based on your employment type. The detachment centres are equipped to conduct fingerprint-based checks for candidates.
• Provincial Police: The provincial police are established in remote areas of Canada and are authorized to conduct these checks for residents, eliminating the need to travel to larger cities for the service.
• Third-Party Companies: If you wish to skip the queue and not wait for your turn through an appointment, you can get all checks except for a vulnerable sector check with a third-party accredited company. They are discreet, fast, and charge a nominal fee for these services. Most fingerprint-based checks are conducted by third-party companies that have either signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the specific police stations or are accredited to work independently with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).  

Outside Canada

The results provided by the authorities are directly sent to the candidate, who then decides whether or not to share them with the requesting employer. They can also refute the results and request clarification if they believe the information is incorrect. To understand the results in detail, you can check this blog. 

# The RCMP conducts fingerprint-based checks, taking at least 2-4 weeks to process the result after data submission. In case of a match, they may take up to 120 days to process all the data. 

Before performing a check on the candidate within or outside Canada, you must obtain written consent. Personal information is protected under privacy laws, and results are only shared with authorized parties. The candidate reserves the right to share the findings with the employer even after receiving the results. If they feel that the result does not match their expectations, they can refute it based on privacy laws. 

In a nutshell, with a company that provides end-to-end services for criminal record checks, like Globeia, you are in safe hands. Always opt for an agency that is RCMP-certified so that you get your result from the same database without any hassles.