Criminal Record Pardons:

Question: How do I apply for a criminal record suspension in Ontario and what documents are typically required?

Answer: White Owl Legal can help Ontario residents understand eligibility for a criminal record suspension (formerly a pardon), the key waiting periods, and how to assemble a complete application package before submission. You generally need proof you’re law-abiding after your last sentence, no outstanding fines or government fees, and you must wait five years after completing a summary conviction or 10 years after completing an indictable sentence. Complex cases require collecting supporting records such as court documents from each jurisdiction, fingerprint-based checks, and other materials submitted together as one package, then allowing several months for preparation and additional months for the decision, with total processing often up to about a year. Important limits can apply for certain sexual offences and for people with multiple serious indictable convictions. For a practical document checklist and next steps, call (289) 839-3075 to book a paralegal-guided intake with White Owl Legal in Ontario.

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Criminal Record Suspension Application Procedures

Everybody has a background with the good, the bad, and even the ugly, details; however, the consequences for mistakes should eventually cease.  For those persons with a criminal record, after a debt to society is paid, the lingering affects of the criminal record often continue with impairment to free travel, restrictions in employment opportunities, and more. A criminal record suspension, formerly known as a pardon, seeks to end the freedom impairing affects of a criminal record.

Note: Please contact White Owl Legal by phone at: (289) 839-3075 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.

The Law

In March 2012, the Safe Streets and Communities Act, S.C. 2012, Chapter 1, effected many changes to the Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, among other statutes, including the Criminal Records Act, R.S.C. c. C-47, which included changes to the guidelines and procedures for obtaining a pardon, including change of the term pardon to the new term, criminal record suspension.  Among various changes, waiting periods were amended such that a record suspension may be available after five (5) years have passed since a summary conviction offence or ten (10) years since an indictable offence.

Expected Process

Applying for a record suspension may involve various complexities depending on the individual situation of the applicant as the application process requires various supportive documents be obtained from various sources and submitted collectively as a complete package with the primary application documents.  The various supportive documents include court records from the jurisdictions in which convictions were registered, finger print checks, among other things.  The process of gathering the required documents and preparing the properly complete package often takes a few months; and after the package of application document are submitted, a decision may take a few more months.  Overall, the entire process may take up to a year, and maybe more for highly complex situations.

Application Guidelines

When applying for a criminal record suspension you must be in law-abiding status subsequent to the end of your most recent sentence and be without any outstanding fines or fees due to the government such as monies owed for driving offences (traffic tickets), among other things.

Additionally, you must await expiry of the applicable waiting period.  The waiting period is five (5) years after completion of summary conviction sentences or ten (10) years after completion of a sentence for an indictable offence conviction.

Furthermore, persons previous convicted for sexual offences may have limitations applicable to a record suspension.  Persons previously convicted of three, or more, indictable offences involving prison sentences of two (2) years or more, as well as persons previously convicted for sexual offences inflicted upon minor persons are unable to obtain a record suspension (a few very rare exceptions may apply).