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Sault Ste. Marie Police Service
Police Record Checks

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Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)

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This check is restricted to applicants seeking employment and/or volunteering in a position of trust or authority over children or vulnerable persons in Canada only. (This means more than having contact with children or vulnerable persons.) This check will include offence information, including convictions, outstanding warrants, charges, judicial orders, and sexual offence convictions for which the individual has received a record suspension (pardon) where authorized by the Minister of Public Safety. 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.

NOTE: Persons under the age of 18 do not qualify for a Police Vulnerable Sector Check. They are not able to receive a Record Suspension for sexual offences and as such the check would be of no value.

A Vulnerable Sector check is required when a position (paid or volunteer) is one of authority and trust relative to children or vulnerable persons:

A "CHILD" MEANS A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

"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.

Casual or occasional contract with children or other vulnerable person do not normally require a Vulnerable Sector check unless the position could lead the organization’s clients to have trust in the individual.

If you are not working with Vulnerable Persons you may need a Police Information Check. See this option under Police Record Checks for more information.

Persons requiring records checks for the purposes of Adoption are to use the Police Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check and may require fingerprints to complete this process.

Persons requiring records checks for the purposes of Kinship are to use the Police Vulnerable Sector Check.

Persons requiring a Non-Parent Custody Applicant Record Check (through court order) cannot use this online screening process. You must attend the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service in person to make application.

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

The Police Vulnerable Sector Check will include the following:
  1. Criminal convictions from CPIC and/or local databases.
  2. Summary convictions (previous 5 years) when identified.
  3. Outstanding entries, such as charges and warrants, judicial orders, Peace Bonds, Probation and Prohibition Orders.
  4. Findings of guilt under the Youth Criminal Justice Act within the applicable disclosure period.
  5. Absolute and Conditional Discharges (for 1 or 3 years respectively).
  6. Dispositions of Not Criminally Responsible by Reason of Mental Disorder.
  7. A review will be conducted of all police contacts. Non convictions are criminal charges that did not result in a conviction in court. However, if the information meets the Exceptional Disclosure Assessment it will be released under the authority of the Police Services Act.
  8. All record suspensions as authorized for release by the Minister of Public Safety.

The Police Vulnerable Sector Check WILL NOT include:
  1. Convictions under provincial statutes.
  2. Local police contact.
  3. Ministry of Transportation information.
  4. Special Interest Police (SIP) category of CPIC.
  5. Family Court restraining orders.
  6. Any reference to incidents involving mental health contact.
  7. Diversions will not be released as police contact and no reference to the occurrence is permitted (CC S.717.4).
  8. Youth Criminal Justice Act information beyond the applicable disclosure period.
  9. Foreign information.
  10. Any reference to contagious diseases.