Record Destruction
We understand the importance of having a clean criminal record. Whether you are seeking employment, applying for immigration, or simply want to leave your past behind, our Record Destruction Services can help you clear your record and start fresh.
What is Record Destruction?
Record destruction, also known as file destruction or file purging, is a legal process that allows eligible individuals to have their criminal records and related information removed or destroyed from law enforcement databases. This process involves seeking approval from the local police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to destroy records from their databases.
Eligibility for Record Destruction
Before initiating the process of record destruction, individuals must meet certain eligibility criteria including:
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Be at least 18 years of age;
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Have no Pending or Outstanding Charges;
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Have no criminal convictions with any police agency;
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Have no outstanding charges before the courts; and
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Not be subject to any Peace Bond.
Individuals must also meet one of the following requirements to be eligible to apply for record destruction:
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Their charges have been withdrawn;
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They entered into a peace bond;
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They entered into an absolute or conditional discharge;
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They were found not guilty after the trial; or
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Their charges were stayed and a year has passed since they were stayed.
Please note that applications cannot be made if:
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Within one year of an Absolute Discharge;
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Within three years of a Conditional Discharge; or
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Within one year of a stay of proceedings (other than a judicial stay).
Note: If your charges were withdrawn, dismissed, quashed, discharged, or if you were acquitted or given a judicial stay, there is no waiting period to apply for your record destruction.
Youth Criminal Act
If the applicant was under 18 years old at the time of their arrest, a different process under the Youth Criminal Act may apply. Please contact us for more information.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
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If you have a criminal conviction on your file for which you haven't received a record suspension, we cannot apply for record destruction.
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If you have attempted to enter the U.S. before record destruction and provided fingerprints at the border, the U.S. border agencies may have documented this information. Unfortunately, there is no control over these records. Efforts can be made to remove data from local police stations and the RCMP's database, but records at U.S. borders are beyond our control.
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For detailed information about dealing with U.S. border issues, we recommend consulting a U.S. immigration lawyer who specializes in such cases. They can provide expert assistance and guidance.
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How to Initiate the Record Destruction Process with Us
To start your record destruction process with us, please send us an email with detailed information about your case and one of our team members will get back to you with instructions, guidance and necessary consultations to start the process.
We will guide you on the documentation required for your record destruction application, the associated fees, the processing timeline, etc. Please contact us for more information.