A National Non-Profit Organization for over 32 years.
Did you know that if you have been charged with a crime in Toronto, that was later withdrawn, discharged or for which you were acquitted, the record of that charge could come back to haunt you later? Most people assume that if a charge did not result in a conviction, it would not be found if someone does a criminal check.
The truth is if the police fingerprinted you when you were charged with a criminal offence, a record of that charge could show up if a potential employer performs a criminal check. It could also make travel to the U.S. difficult.
If someone is convicted of offence, has completed the sentence and shown that he or she can be a law-abiding citizen, a Record Suspension (formerly known as a pardon) will remove the offence from showing up when someone does a criminal record check. Their record, which includes fingerprints, photographs, police reports and court records, are sealed and would only be accessed should the individual later be charged with another offence.
For a person who was accused of a criminal offence and fingerprinted, but was not convicted, the record of the charge including fingerprints could still appear in a criminal check without a proper Toronto File Destruction.
If you were charged with a crime and found not guilty or you were never convicted, you do not have a criminal record. However, if you were fingerprinted for the offence, a fingerprint number was assigned to your name and date of birth and will remain on record unless and until steps are taken to have the file destroyed. Even if you were not fingerprinted at the time that you were charged under the criminal code, a Toronto File Destruction might be required.
The determination of File Destruction involves the RCMP and the local police that laid the original charge. If you were charged in Toronto, that would be the Toronto Police Service. Once a request for File Destruction is approved, the photographs, fingerprints and records of the charge are destroyed and cannot be accessed again.
If you’d like to find out more about getting your criminal charge file destroyed, contact us today. We are a non-profit organization that has been dedicated to helping Canadians remove their criminal records for over 32 years.
You can speak with one of our expert counsellors by calling 1-855-981-3545 between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM Monday to Friday. All calls are completely confidential, and you can remain anonymous if you wish.
You can also visit our walk-in center located at 45 St. Clair West, Suite 901 to meet with a counsellor face-to-face at no cost to you.
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