What Is A Police Record Check

Acceptable Forms Of Identification

In order to release or confirm confidential information regarding your criminal record, or lack thereof, we require sufficient proper identification to verify your identity. The applicant must produce two pieces of appropriate identification that confirms their name, date of birth and address. One piece of identification presented must include a photo.

The following is a list of items that are considered acceptable forms of identification.

which provides photo and both the name and date of birth of an individual:

• Driver’s Licence
• Age of Majority Card
• Canadian Citizenship Card
• Firearms Licence
• Government Employment Card

Non-Photo Identification which provides both the name and date of birth of an individual:

• Birth Certificate
• Immigration Papers
• Outdoors Card
• Recent utility bill required to verify current Waterloo Region address if no driver’s licence is available.
• People under 16 can provide school ID, bus pass and/or their parent can provide verification

For further information, please contact 519-570-9777 ext. 8900.

What Shows Up On A Criminal History Background Check

Nearly all background checks include a criminal-history check, based on information supplied by the candidate, including their Social Security number. Criminal background checks will reveal felony and misdemeanor criminal convictions, any pending criminal cases, and any history of incarceration as an adult. Arrests pending prosecution may also be reported. Arrests that did not lead to convictions may appear in some background checks GoodHire excludes them in its screenings to conform to EEOC guidelines.

Records of juvenile convictions and detention that have been sealed by a court typically do not appear in these searches, but all other criminal convictions may appear, unless they occurred in a state that forbids disclosure of convictions after a certain period of time. Disclosure of convictions more than seven years old is forbidden in California, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Montana, New Hampshire, New York and Washington. Hawaii forbids disclosure of convictions after seven years for felonies and five years for misdemeanors .

How To Request Verification That A Record Has Been Sealed

Individuals or their lawyer can use the forms that follow to receive verification from the Division of Criminal Justice Services that a court-ordered seal as defined by state Criminal Procedure Law 160.59, 160.55, or 160.50 has been applied to their New York State Criminal History Record.

• This form should be used by individuals who have applied for and received a court order seal related to a conviction that occurred more than 10 years ago.
• This form should be used by individuals requesting verification of a seal related to a felony or misdemeanor arrest that resulted in a conviction to either a traffic infraction or violation.
• This form should be used by individuals requesting verification of a seal related to an arrest that resulted in the termination of the criminal proceedings in their favor .

Note: A copy of the signed court seal order must be mailed with the verification form.

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How To Get Name Based Or Fingerprint Based Record Checks

If you require a name based record check for any other reason , you may apply online.

• Immigration
• Visa application
• Nexus or fast card application
• Border crossing

If you require a fingerprint based record check, please attend Commissionaires Office. See below examples.

• Clearance letter for Immigration
• Fingerprints for level 1 or 2 not being requested by London Police
• Border waiver
• Under 18 for Citizenship
• Criminal Record Check for Personal Use and any type of government employment

1730 Dundas Street or 14-1112 Dearness Drive

London, ON

Police Vulnerable Sector Check

Police Vulnerable Sector Check is restricted to applicants seeking employment and/or volunteering with vulnerable individuals. It includes student placements.

Employment: cost is $40.00 . This search is intended for individuals who will be employed in vulnerable positions such as: day care centres, nursing, social workers, teaching, etc. This search is required when working with children , the elderly, sick or infirm. This is available only to residents of Sault Ste. Marie and Prince Township. The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service does not provide record checks to people living outside of Canada.

Volunteers and students : cost is $15.00 . This search is also for individuals who will be volunteering in vulnerable positions such as the: Children’s Aid Society, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Meals on Wheels, boys and girls clubs, etc. This is required when volunteering with children , the elderly, sick or infirm. This is available to residents of Sault Ste. Marie and Prince Township.

Volunteers who require fingerprints to confirm their identity as required by the R.C.M.P.: You must provide AN ACCOMPANYING LETTER from the organization in which you will be volunteering so as to have the administrative fees waived by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and the R.C.M.P., otherwise all fees will be collected.

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Noncriminal Justice Volunteer Background Checks / Volunteer Care Provider Program :

N.J.A.C. 13:59-1 et seq. provides background checks for non-criminal justice volunteers to the following:

• Any person who volunteers with a qualified entity, as that term is defined by the National Child Protection Act of 1993, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5119, 5119c
• Any person who volunteers his or her services to an entity that has been qualified by the Internal Revenue System as exempt from Federal income tax pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 501 or
• Any volunteer of a nonprofit youth serving organization.

There are two options available to a requester under the VCP.

Fingerprint-Based VCP Check :

A requester may elect to conduct a more thorough check, based on a fingerprint comparison by using the service code provided below. The fee for electronic fingerprinting is $32.13. These responses will be mailed directly to the employers address that is provided by the applicant. The following forms of payment are accepted: VISA, Master Card, American Express, Discover prepaid debit cards, or electronic debit from a checking account. Accounts will be debited immediately.

YOUR EMPLOYER / VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION ADDRESS MUST BE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE, AS RESULTS ARE SENT OUT VIA US MAIL.

Contributor case number: VCP

Name-Based Volunteer Check :

If only a name-based criminal history record check is desired, please refer to the SBI 212B Form information listed below. The fee for name-based volunteer submissions is reduced to $12.No personal checks will be accepted.

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What Does A Level 2 Background Check Include

A Level 2 background check is a specialized type of fingerprint background check typically performed on candidates for jobs that involve working with vulnerable persons, such as children, people with disabilities, and seniors. Level 2 checks are also often required for volunteer positions at schools, daycares, and senior centers as well as for paid personnel. They are also often required for adults seeking to adopt or become foster parents.

A Level 2 background screen checks applicants against databases of information on arrests, convictions, and incarceration related to violent behavior and crimes against children and other vulnerable persons. A Level 2 check will even uncover relevant records that have been sealed by courts, including juvenile convictions and detention.

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What If My Police Clearance Certificate Is Not Written In English

A police clearance certificate that is written in a language other than English must be submitted with a certified English translation.

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What Does An Fbi Background Check Consist Of

Often used to screen candidates for jobs with federal government agencies and companies that work with and for them, an FBI-level background check uncovers any and every interaction a candidate may have had with law enforcement agencies that provide their criminal data to the FBI database. In addition to convictions, this may include arrests , traffic violations, and even parking tickets.

Applicants must submit to fingerprinting by a recognized law enforcement agency, and their prints are checked against the FBIs Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System , a vast computerized repository of fingerprints compiled by law enforcement agencies, immigration officials, and even past employment screenings. The IACIS database links personal data to fingerprints collected in both criminal and non-criminal matters.

Fingerprints are also checked against the National Crime Information Center database, a huge compilation of criminal-history information and data on wanted criminals and against databases of sex offenders and terrorists.

FBI background checks have come under some scrutiny in recent years, on grounds that bureau databases are not always complete, and because the records they contain may create disparate impacts in instances involving minority job applicants.

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What Is The Sex Offender Registry

The sex offender registry is a public database of individuals convicted of sex crimes in the United States. Per Megan’s Law, every person convicted of a sex crime must register as a sex offender for a specified period depending on the severity of the crime. In turn, municipalities and states must maintain a searchable database of sex offenders registered or living in that jurisdiction. Likewise, the Department of Justice maintains a national sex offender registry.

Any member of the public may search an official sex offender registry for information on a suspected or convicted sex offender. A person may use information obtained from the sex offender registry to satisfy personal curiosity or protect loved ones. However, states have laws that caution against using the information obtained from the registry to harass, blackmail, or embarrass a sex offender.

Meanwhile, Megan’s Law also ensures residents receive notifications when a sex offender moves into the community. The sexual assault and murder of Megan Kanka of Mercer County, New Jersey, made these measures necessary. Megan’s attacker, Jesse Timmendequas, was a sex offender with two prior convictions of sex crimes against young children. Yet, the community was unaware of his status as a sex offender before he committed the despicable crime.

Removal Of Arrest Information

Sometimes a criminal history report will contain expunged, dismissed, or not prosecuted charges. In most cases, state law does not permit the removal of arrest information. If an arrest on the record qualifies for removal, you must submit the Fingerprint Record Removal Request to CIB.

Eligible for removal: To qualify for this type of removal, all of the charges listed on the arrest fingerprint submission must have been dismissed or not charged. Charges amended to a lesser offense do not qualify for removal.

• Dismissed charges or charges not prosecuted.
• Released without charges being filed.
• Acquitted by a court.

Not eligible for removal:

• Individual charges that are part of an arrest event .
• Custody transactions such as: warrants, probation violations, and extradition proceedings.
• Expungement of a case in court. This does not satisfy the statutory requirements for removal from the criminal record.
• Offenses resulting in a conviction with a stipulation that the record be expunged upon successful completion of the terms of the agreement. This results in the court record being expunged. This section does not require law enforcement agencies or prosecutors to destroy records relating to an expunged conviction, nor does it prohibit courts from considering the facts underlying an expunged conviction in sentencing in another case.
• Dispositions under first offender or youthful offender provisions also do not qualify unless the charge was dismissed by the court

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Are Arrest Records Public

Yes. Public access to arrest records is a right in most states. However, the information could be limited based on court rules. For example, arrest records that are part of an ongoing investigation may be kept private if the court decides that the record could compromise individual privacy. While the record may not be available for viewing, members of the public maintain the right to request arrest information.

Are Criminal Records Public

Yes. Criminal records are presumed open to the public under the Freedom Of Information Act and State Public Record Laws. Members of the public may get the documents in this record from the record custodian without prior authorization. However, note that the record custodian varies with the jurisdiction. Many states designate the state primary law enforcement agency as the record custodian. Others integrate criminal record search with court case search and assign the clerk of courts as the record custodian for criminal records.

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Obtaining A Police Information Check

Visit a Calgary Police Service location and remember to bring:

For status of your police check please refer to the following website for current processing date. Once application is processed please allow an additional 2-3 business days for mail delivery, to receive, unless further follow-up is required of you to which you will be notified. You may also refer to this website to learn more about our online Police Information check process. The Police Information Check will not disclose to a third party any specific information will be disclosed to the applicant only.

If you have previously resided in Calgary and now reside elsewhere in Alberta, in another Province or Out of Country and require a Calgary Police Service Police Information Check, please see Police information checks for people outside Calgary.

Can I Get My Police Check Done Any Faster

We do not have a system in place to process ‘rush’ requests. We appreciate that everyone would like their check completed as quickly as possible, and we strive to minimize the turnaround time as best we can.

Can I receive replacement copies of my background check?

Background checks are only valid as of the date they are issued. Most record checks are made available to you when you download them from your online account. You have 31 days to download the completed record check or to notify us of any technical difficulties. In some cases, we are still required to mail the completed record check using Canada Post. If you require a replacement paper copy , you have 90 days from the processing date to notify us. Please email our to submit your request.

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Police Record Checks Reform Act 2015

The Police Record Checks Reform Act 2015, came into force on November 1, 2018 and it establishes clear and consistent rules to govern police record checks in the province to protect public safety and strengthen individual civil liberties by removing unnecessary barriers to employment, education and volunteer opportunities. It prevents the disclosure of unnecessary information and standardizes the process by clearly defining three types of police record checks.

Please review all of the information below. There is now a new record check form to complete which includes all three types of record checks and a separate self declaration form of an existing criminal record.

Additionally, there are documents below to assist with the new requirements for these checks.

• Follow up reviews
• Feedback from clients
• Other assessments as appropriate .

Police Records Check for Employment or Volunteer Opportunities: The employer or volunteer agency plays an integral role in the initial stages of the hiring process and the records check should only be one piece of their recruiting process.

For further information on selecting employees or volunteers, please refer to the 10 Step Guideline and Screening Handbook at Volunteer Canada.

To reduce the risk of child sexual abuse and create safer environments for the children in your care, please go to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection to view and complete their free training.

What Type Of Records Check Do I Need And How Much Will It Cost

As per the Police Records Check Reform Act of Ontario, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service offers three types of police record checks:

• Police Criminal Records Check
• Police Criminal Records and Judicial Matters Check
• Police Vulnerable Sector Check

Your employer and/or volunteer organization will confirm for you what type of police records check is required.

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What Are Inmate Records

Inmate records are documents that contain information on offenders held in a county, state, or federal correctional facility. The Sheriff’s Office or Police Department operates county jails where inmates convicted of misdemeanors serve time. The state Department of Correction operates state prisons where offenders convicted of felonies serve time. Persons convicted of federal crimes spend time in federal prisons maintained by the Federal Bureau of Prison. Administrative staff at these facilities are custodians of inmate records and jail records and often provide inmate search tools for interested parties.

Parties can also obtain public inmate records per the state’s Public Records Law or the Federal Freedom of Information Act. These agencies maintain online databases of inmate records. The information in an inmate record differs with the level of jurisdiction. Nevertheless, requesters can expect to see the following information in a typical inmate record:

• Inmate’s full name and all known aliases
• Mugshots and fingerprints
• Physical identifiers such as tattoos, body marking, and piercings
• Physical description, including height, weight, eye color, hair color, and race
• The date of incarceration and the expected date of release
• Any “good behavior” points awarded to the inmate used to earn early release or parole
• Details of the convicted offense

Process For Getting A Vulnerable Sector Check

If you live in British Columbia, follow the process defined by the British Columbia Criminal Records Review Program. In all other cases, contact your local police service. You will be required to provide the police service with the following information:

• A description of the position
• The name of the organization staffing the position
• Details about the children or vulnerable persons
• If the position is volunteer, provide a letter from the organization stating the person will not be paid for services or any other personal expenses incurred.

Once the police service has determined that the position meets the requirements for a vulnerable sector check, a name based search will be conducted. In some cases you will be required to submit fingerprints to confirm your identity. The use of fingerprints ensures the accuracy of the identification process.

Once the vulnerable sector check is completed, the police service conducting the vulnerable sector check will send the results to the requesting organization.

The Criminal Records Act requires that vulnerable sector checks be conducted for individual positions. This means that if you are applying for different positions that require a vulnerable sector check, you may need to submit fingerprints for each of those individual positions.

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