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Cornwall Police Service
Police Record Checks

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FAQ

For RCMP information specific to Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector checks, please visit
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/index-eng.htm.
  1. What is a police record check?
  2. Do I need a police check to get a job?
  3. I am under 18 years of age. Can I get a police check?
  4. I am attending post-secondary school and living in Cornwall as a student. Can I get a police record check done here?
  5. I'm beginning my job search. Should I obtain a police check in advance?
  6. How long is a police check valid? Is there an expiry date?
  7. What if I choose the wrong type of police check?
  8. What if I have a criminal record? Will this automatically bar me from getting a job?
  9. What are 'police contacts' and how are they relevant?
  10. I have police contact information that I feel might hinder my chances of getting a job. Is there a process I can use to get things removed from my police check?
  11. Do you release information on my driving history including speeding tickets and other infractions?
  12. Why does it take so long to get my check done?
  13. Can I get my police check done any faster?
  14. What if I don't disclose all the pages of my police check, or alter the information prior to showing it to an employer?
  15. I don't live in Cornwall, or I reside outside of Canada. How can I get a police record check?

  1. What is a police record check?


    A police record check may contain certain categories of information the police could have on file pertaining to an individual. This includes, but is not limited to, a record of convictions for criminal offences across Canada, outstanding warrants, judicial orders in effect (such as peace bonds, prohibitions or probation orders), and certain documented contacts an individual may have had with the police in recent years. Some people have absolutely no such information, while others may have some or all of these categories. The extent of information released depends on which level of police record check the employer requires, specific to the position.

    In releasing information, the police take no position on the suitability of the applicant, and will not offer any comment or opinion It is entirely at the discretion of the employer as to whether or not the applicant may be considered for the position.

  2. Do I need a police check to get a job?


    Not necessarily. Although some employers do not require one, more and more are asking for police checks as part of the application process. We advise employers to use the police check as one of the last steps in the process, after they've reviewed your application, conducted interviews and checked references.

    The police do not require people to get record checks. You are being asked to provide one by the agency/employer to which you are applying. Our role is limited to providing a report with any potentially relevant information held in police databanks.

  3. I am under 18 years of age. Can I get a police check?


    There may be very limited information available, if anything Persons under 18 years must attend the Records Branch of the Police Service in person, as it is unlikely they will be able to authenticate ID using the on-line process.

  4. I am attending post-secondary school and living in Cornwall as a student. Can I get a police record check done here?


    We will accept your application if you are able to provide documents to prove you are registered as a student in a Cornwall educational institution. This would include a current student card or letter of acceptance.

  5. I'm beginning my job search. Should I obtain a police check in advance?


    We do not recommend it. First, you might obtain the wrong type of check and then have to apply for a new one at additional cost. As well, most employers will want a recent police check; if you do one in advance, it might not be accepted depending on when it was originally completed.

  6. How long is a police check valid? Is there an expiry date?


    Police records checks are only valid on the day they are issued, since information can change from day to day. They are a 'snapshot in time' only. The police do not determine an expiry date; this is up to the agency/employer. Some might accept a police check that is 3-6 months old, while others may want a new one.

    Since a person can be clear of charges or criminal activity today but could be arrested and charged tomorrow, we offer no guarantees on the validity of a police check beyond the actual date on which the search was conducted. As well, not all criminal convictions are reported to the RCMP, and more recent dispositions may not be updated on their system at the time a check is conducted.

    In our experience, most employers will ask for a new police record check if the current one is beyond 6 months, and almost certainly if it's older than one year. However, this is entirely at the discretion of the agency/employer.

    Note that Vulnerable Sector checks are only valid for the specific employer/position for which it was conducted, and are not likely to be accepted by another VS sector employer.

  7. What if I choose the wrong type of police check?


    We stress that you make your choice carefully as we do not provide refunds or exchanges. If you are in doubt, the agency/employer should be able to tell you which one they require for the position.

  8. What if I have a criminal record? Will this automatically bar me from getting a job?


    The employer must find information from a police check relevant to the job they are offering. The Ontario Human Rights Code states that a person cannot be discriminated against based on, among other things, a 'record of offences'. Obviously some jobs - such as Police or Corrections Officer - will require the person to be free of convictions and have nothing in their history that might call their integrity into question. A person seeking a job at a financial institution will not likely be successful if they have convictions for theft, fraud or other crimes of dishonesty. However, a criminal record may not necessarily bar a person from obtaining employment or a volunteer position - the employer must show how that record is relevant to the position being offered - a bona fide reason for refusal.

  9. What are 'police contacts' and how are they relevant?


    Police contact information may speak to a person's character Although not necessarily a criminal record, and possibly not even involve criminal activity, there can be situations where a person has had contact with the police that might cause an employer to ask additional questions or seek further references. We may release contacts where a person may have been investigated for a crime but charges were never laid; where charges were laid but did not result in a conviction; or if the subject was involved in a dispute or disturbance. This kind of information may be helpful to an agency/employer in determining whether or not a person might be suitable for a specific position.

    The disclosure of these types of contacts does not imply involvement in criminal activity, nor that the subect is guilty of any crime or even has a criminal record. This information may or may not be relevant to an employer for the position being offered. The determination on relevance is up to the employer, not the police service. Our role is limited to creating and releasing a police record check report. We offer no opinion or comment on a person's suitability, and we do not undertake any discussions with an employer regarding specific individuals. All information in this process is released directly to the applicant; we do not disclose any information to employers or other persons.

    The Cornwall Police Service has a duty to include eligible accused and/or suspect contacts as it may be relevant, and employers rely on the police to provide complete and honest disclosure. If we withhold potentially relevant information, the police service leaves itself exposed to potential liability by virtue of the fact that we were aware of information but did not release it, particularly if the request to withhold this information was made by the applicant themselves. We must take into consideration all available data that might possibly help an agency determine the suitability of an applicant for the position for which they are applying. This is the core function of any police record check process.

    Before releasing any contacts, be assured that we have carefully reviewed all information at hand and have determined that the disclosure of the contact(s) may be of relevance and may or may not be given consideration by an employer, organization or agency.

    Release of contact information is based on Incidents where the alleged victim was a child or a vulnerable person and/or police have reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant has been engaged in a pattern of predation indicating that the individual presents a risk of harm to a child or a vulnerable person.

  10. I have police contact information that I feel might hinder my chances of getting a job. Is there a process I can use to get things removed from my police check?


    You do have an option of appealing the release of certain information through our Reconsideration process. This relates only to police contact information. Criminal convictions are always released and cannot be appealed.

    You must submit your request in writing, and provide the reasons why you feel the information should not be included. More detailed information on the Reconsideration process can be found on our website:

    http://www.cornwallpolice.com/

  11. Do you release information on my driving history including speeding tickets and other infractions?


    We do not disclose any non-criminal driving offences. If the job you are applying for requires proof of a clear driving record, you can obtain your Driver's Abstract from the Ministry of Transportation. However, we will disclose any driving offences under the Criminal Code, such as Impaired Driving, Dangerous Driving, Criminal Negligence, etc., as well as the disposition.

  12. Why does it take so long to get my check done?


    We process many police record checks each year for various employers as well as school boards and minor sporting leagues. Each one must be queried, the results analyzed, and in the case of potential police contacts, reports must be reviewed individually. If you've resided at an address outside Cornwall in recent years, we must also contact that police service to conduct a query of their local records. All of this takes time and resources. While we can usually complete your police check well within the stated timeframes, there may be occasions where information is delayed or requires further confirmation.

  13. Can I get my police check done any faster?


    We do not have a system in place to process 'rush' jobs. No one applicant is more or less important than the next person. It would not be fair to do it for one person and not for someone else. 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.

  14. What if I don't disclose all the pages of my police check, or alter the information prior to showing it to an employer?


    The Cornwall Police Service apply security seals to certify documents as original, write our responses in blue ink, and include the number of pages to ensure all available information is properly released. If a person deliberately alters the results of their police check by changing the content, it is considered Uttering a Forged Document, which is an offence under the Criminal Code. If we become aware this has occurred it will be investigated and charges could be laid.

    If an agency/employer has any questions about the validity of the document, they can contact us. Although we will not discuss the content of a person's police check due to privacy reasons, we will confirm the number of pages originally released, and advise whether or not a document may have been altered.

  15. I don't live in Cornwall, or I reside outside of Canada. How can I get a police record check?


    Note that Vulnerable Sector Checks can only be done for Canadian residents residing and employed in Canada. As per RCMP directives, police services cannot conduct Vulnerable Sector check for citizens living and and working outside Canada, even if the employer is a Canadian firm.

    If you reside outside Canada, you can obtain a certified criminal records check by submitting fingerprints directly to the RMCP. Note that this only contains information relevant to criminal convictions, if any. It does not include police contact information, nor a search of the pardoned database. More information is available on the RCMP website at:

    http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/fing-empr2-eng.htm