Police Background Checks

A criminal background check conducted by your local police service offers the most comprehensive approach to ensuring public safety. Police Services, like the Niagara Regional, are able to survey and provide additional information not included in third-party criminal background checks that might only reference the federal RCMP CPIC database.

Additional information may exist, including criminal convictions for offences not supported by fingerprints (and therefore do not reside in the RCMP database), as well as potentially relevant non-conviction details including investigations where charges were not laid, charges that did not lead to convictions, and non-criminal offences such as disputes and disturbances. This information, if present, may be disclosed within a Police Criminal Records and Judicial Matters Check or Vulnerable Sector Check.

While some third party companies offer faster results, you may not be getting as much information as might potentially be available. Be informed and aware of limitations that may exist.

For specific examples where a VS check may and may not be appropriate, please click here

For a comparison of the records currently offered, please click here.

Benefits of working with your local police ... [read more]

Applicants with a criminal record? ... [read more]

Police Criminal Records Check
(PCRC)

Police Criminal Records Check<br/>(PCRC)

Intended for applicants who are involved as a volunteer, employee or in any situation where a basic PCRC is requested (i.e., retail or immigration).

Police Criminal Records and Judicial Matters Check (PCRJMC)

Intended for applicants who are seeking volunteer and/or employment with agencies who require a PCRC along with local police involvement and other systems/records where authorized.

Police Vulnerable Sector Scan
(PVSC)

Police Vulnerable Sector Scan<br/>(PVSC)

Restricted to applicants seeking employment and/or volunteering with vulnerable individuals.

Partners & Alliances

Infocus

	Position or Occupation (these are guidelines only, your employer will determine which check is required)	Police Criminal Records Check (PCRC)	Police Criminal Records and Judicial Matters Check (PCRJMC)	Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)
1.	School Teacher or Teaching Assistant (on hire or placement)
2.	Office worker
3.	Social Worker
4.	Daycare Worker
5.	School Bus Driver
6.	Taxi Cab Driver
7.	Retail Worker
8.	Personal Support Worker
9.	Factory Worker
10.	Food Vendor
11.	Minor Sporting Coach
12.	Scout Leader
13.	Hospitality (bars, restaurants, hotels)
14.	Tenant for rental property
15.	Youth Worker
16.	Nursing/Retirement Home Worker
17.	School Crossing Guard
18.	Landlord/Superintendent
19.	Security Guard
20.	Bank Teller
21.	Immigration/Permanent Resident

	Non-Refundable Fee All online checks require an additional $9.95 processing / authentication fee + applicable taxes	Police Criminal Records Check	Police Criminal Records and Judicial Matters Check	Police Vulnerable Sector Check
1.	For Employment	$50.00	$50.00	$50.00
2.	For Volunteer (letter from organization will be required for verification) Volunteer means a person who performs a service but who receives no compensation for doing so other than an allowance for expenses or an honorarium, and excludes a person receiving some other form of credit such as academic credit or fulfilling a sentence requirement. -more info-	$0	$0	$20.00
3.	For Adoption	n/a	$50.00	n/a
4.	For Foster Parent	n/a	n/a	$50.00
5.	For Kinship	n/a	n/a	$20.00
6.	For Paid Student Placement	$50.00	$50.00	$50.00
7.	For Unpaid Student Placement	$20.00	$20.00	$20.00
8.	For Homestay	n/a	n/a	$50.00
9.	Extra Copies (per) (only available at the time of application)	$5.00	$5.00	n/a

	Estimated Turnaround Times (while the police service strives to meet these timeframes, there is no guarantee)	Police Criminal Records Check	Police Criminal Records and Judicial Matters Check	Police Vulnerable Sector Check
1.	For Employment	6 weeks	6 weeks	6 weeks
2.	For Volunteer	6 weeks	6 weeks	6 weeks
3.	For Adoption		6 weeks
4.	For Foster Parent			6 weeks
5.	For Kinship			6 weeks
6.	For Paid Student Placement	6 weeks	6 weeks	6 weeks
7.	For Unpaid Student Placement	6 weeks	6 weeks	6 weeks
8.	For Homestay			6 weeks