Pardons Canada – Criminal charges that have been dismissed, withdrawn, stayed, conditional or absolute discharge is now affecting US border crossing

pardons.org US border crossing with ANY form of criminal charges has become a lot more difficult. We are being inundated with calls and emails from people who are getting turned away at the US Border even for criminal charges that have been withdrawn, dismissed, stayed, absolute or conditional discharged. Here is an email we received…

Pardons Canada – Having a passport does NOT mean you can enter the US with a criminal record

pardons.org Many people call us in shock that they have been turned away at the US Border because of an old criminal record.  They were under the false assumption that because they have a valid Canadian Passport, that they have been pre-cleared to go to the US. This is obviously WRONG.  Yet hundreds of people…

Pardons Canada – A Conditional Discharge Can Haunt You Well Beyond the Sentence

pardons.org Some people believe that a conditional discharge will simply disappear over time.  This is not the case.  Your fingerprints, photos, court and police records can stay on record until you apply for a File Destruction. The Americans do not distinguish between a suspended sentence, regular conviction or conditional or absolute discharge.  If they uncover…

Pardons Canada – Bill C23 – Final Resolution Before Parliament Breaks for the Summer

pardons.org The government and opposition agreed Wednesday to fast-track a bill through Parliament to block killer Karla Homolka from winning a pardon. The original bill, C-23, essentially proposed to change the waiting period for summary offences from 3 to 5 years and indictable offences from 5 to 10 years. It also proposes that individuals would…

Pardons Canada – Conditional Discharge and Absolute Discharge for Domestic Assault

pardons.org Assault is among the most common criminal charge in Canada.  Often times it occurs when a fight has gotten out of hand and the police are called to the scene.  In many cases, the person who called the police did so in the heat of the moment and did not wish to lay charges. …