Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC)
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By definition, “Vulnerable Persons" means persons who, because of their age, a disability or other circumstances, whether temporary or permanent, (A) are in a position of dependence on others; or (B) are otherwise at a greater risk than the general population of being harmed by persons in a position of authority or trust relative to them.
If you are not to be working or volunteering with vulnerable persons as defined above, you only require a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC).
Non-conviction information shall be released only when it meets the Exceptional Disclosure Assessment.
NOTE: In accordance with the Criminal Records Act, the police must be satisfied that a Vulnerable Sector screening check is a truly valid requirement for the position. A request for a Vulnerable Sector check does not guarantee one will be completed. The applicant and agency must satisfy requirements for eligibility.
For specific examples where a VSC check may and may not be appropriate,
please click here.
Police Vulnerable Sector Checks will include:
- Criminal convictions from CPIC and/or local databases.
- Summary convictions, for five years, when identified.
- Findings of Guilt under the Youth Criminal Justica Act within the applicable disclosure period only if requested in accordance with YCJA 119(1)(o).
- Outstanding entries, such as charges and warrants, judicial orders, Peace Bonds, Probation and Prohibition Orders. As per CPIC policy, information obtained from the Investigative Databank must be confirmed and authorized for release by the contributing agency.
- Absolute and conditional discharges for 1 or 3 years respectively. However, they may only be released from a CR2 (another police service's record) if adult criminal convictions are released. (RCMP Dissemenation of a Criminal Record Information Policy)
- In very exceptional cases, where it meets the Exceptional Disclosure, non-conviction dispositions including, but not limited to, Withdrawn and Dismissed.
- Not Criminally Responsible by Reason of Mental Disorder.
- All record suspensions as authorized for release by the Minister of Public Safety.
Police Vulnerable Sector Checks will NOT include:
- Convictions under provincial statutes.
- Local police contact.
- Ministry of Transportation information (PARIS).
- Special Interest Police (SIP) category of CPIC.
- Family Court restraining orders.
- Foreign information.
- Any reference to incidents involving mental health contact.
- Diversions will not be released as police contact and no reference to the occurrence is permitted (CC S. 717.4).
- Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) information unless requested in accordance with YCJA 119(1)(o).
- Any reference to contagious diseases.
Self-Declaration
Self-declaration of a criminal record is a process where you may declare your adult criminal record convictions to the police service.Do declare:
- All convictions for offences under Federal Law.
- A conviction in which you have received a Record Suspension (pardon) in accordance with the Criminal Records Act.
- A conviction when you where you were a "young person" under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
- An Absolute or Conditional Discharge, pursuant to section 730 of the Criminal Code.
- Any offence for which you were not convicted (i.e. the charges were Withdrawn, Dismissed, etc).
- Any Provincial or Municipal offences.
- Any charges dealt with outside of Canada.