In an age where information is shared instantaneously it makes little sense to forgo applying for a pardon to remove your criminal record and alleviate yourself of the restrictions to travel and employment you may currently experience.

When it comes to traveling to the United States of America you may be at risk as it is against the law to cross the border with a criminal record. The penalties for attempting to do so may be fines, imprisonment and/or being banned from future entry. The solution to this problem is to secure a pardon or United States entry waiver making your criminal record inaccessible in common searches by the U.S. and Canadian authorities.

If you have a criminal record and are planning to apply for your passport consider applying for a pardon at the same time to remove the restrictions associated with a criminal record. Failing to do so could present serious complications to your life and freedom.

We’ve all made mistakes. Whether you were caught shoplifting, smoking marijuana or was caught up in a bar fight years ago, you now have a criminal record that prevents you from realizing your career potential. Yes, there is a solution to this common problem, a National Pardon.

Applying for a pardon before you become eligible is important. A pardon will seal your criminal record and your past will not be revealed to employers, even during a background check.

Pardon applications are submitted to and approved by the Parole Board of Canada and involve a lot of tedious, intricate paperwork. Meeting your pardon eligibility requirements and processing the necessary paperwork correctly is the key to securing a National Pardon.

Once your pardon is granted your criminal record is removed and kept separate from active criminal records. This means employers will not be able to review your past criminal history.

The National Pardon Centre specializes in securing pardons for our clients. We are experts at completing and filing applications with the Parole Board of Canada to ensure a successful outcome.

Don’t miss out on future employment opportunities. Apply for your pardon today!

Depending on the outcome you may require a purge and file destruction instead of a pardon. In any case, starting the application process today is the first step in removing your criminal record.

The Parole Board of Canada is the governing body that grants pardons and the application process involves paperwork that is intricate, tedious and time consuming. Your application must be done right or it will be rejected and returned and then you will have to start over at the beginning. Furthermore, if your pardon application is rejected you will have to pay a fee.

The National Pardon Centre takes care of the application process for you. We ensure your highest possible chance of securing a pardon and removing your criminal record.

Trying to find work in a downturn economy is hard enough but trying to get a job in today’s economy if you have a criminal record is a real struggle. More and more companies require background checks and security clearance before committing to hiring an employee.

There is great value in eliminating your criminal record. Even minor offenses like shoplifting, DUI and marijuana possession will make you ineligible for certain jobs and place restrictions on your ability to travel.

If you have a criminal record, apply for a pardon today and remove the restrictions on your life and livelihood.

The application for a pardon is made to the Parole Board of Canada and a positive outcome relies heavily on meeting the board’s eligibility requirements.

The application process is lengthy and complex and having a professional company like National Pardon Centre working on your behalf greatly increases your chances of securing a pardon and eliminating your criminal record.

Once your pardon is granted you will have the same opportunities and advantages as those who have never had to deal with the trials and tribulations associated with having a criminal record.

A pardon seals your criminal record and cannot be disclosed to anyone without written permission from the Public Safety Minister. This may occur if you are convicted of another crime, in which case your pardon will likely be revoked.

There are two other ways to secure a pardon. One is a Royal Prerogative of Mercy and the other is through Purge and File Destruction.

It’s never too soon to apply for your pardon. Start today!

The National Pardon Centre is able to fingerprint you onsite, obtain your background check and, if a record does show up, we can take care of that too. Don’t delay. A criminal record can seriously affect your life at any time.  And it is definitely not worth risking your job when it can be pardoned fairly easily.

That answer does beg the following question though: If I choose NOT to tell about my pardon, then what happens? The best answer I can give is that nothing happens at all (there are some exceptions with certain job application that require extensive security clearance but you would be giving your permission in advance for a more extensive search to be done anyway. For the average old job app’ there is not much to worry about).

In the case of a job application if you lie to your employer and he/she finds out, then that would be grounds for dismissal. But I am fairly certain that if you admit you have a criminal record, then you are not getting the job anyway. It is your call. You be the judge.

You should be aware that there is really no straight answer to this question and there is certainly nothing written down in the law books. If you lie about having been convicted of a crime there is no legal penalty that I have ever heard of. So if the Parole Board says you cannot deny that you have been convicted, you might want to ask yourself “why not”?

The Canadian Human Rights Commission states the following in relation to pardoned criminal convictions:

I think it is nice that the Human Rights Commission makes the above statement but the problem is that we all know that human nature is not so forgiving. In a job interview if it comes down to you and another person and you are the one with the criminal record, we all know who is getting the job. I may disagree with the National Parole Board on this one but if I had a pardon for an old criminal conviction I would certainly just say NO when asked if I have ever been arrested. Since no one can find out anyway, why would I disclose my pardon?

Please keep in mind that this is not legal advice. This post is just my understanding of the system and some of my own judgment. In the end you need to evaluate each situation you are in and decide for yourself whether or not you must disclose your pardon.

When it comes to pardoned Canadian criminal records, I am afraid there are few straight-forward answers.

continued below….

Mr. Peter Dimakos is the owner of the URL attached to this website. Mr. Dimakos works with Canadian Pardon Services, a small company operating in Toronto. I can only speculate into Mr. Dimakos’ motives, but it is our resolve that all remedies will be pursued to ensure our trademark is respected and to ensure that our clients and the public are not confused between the National Pardon Center and any other entity.  

I apologize if anyone has exprienced any trouble with this site and would like to add that if you are looking for a trustworthy company to handle your case please contact us at the  National Pardon Centre. We provide free consulations and we give honest trustworthy counsel.

Sincerely,

Michael Ashby
Communications Director
http://www.nationalpardon.org/

Reposted from  www.ottawasun.com

By KATHLEEN HARRIS, NATIONAL BUREAU CHIEF

The number of ex-cons seeking pardons has doubled as more employers and volunteer groups screen applicants for criminal records.

Last year, more than 30,000 people applied for pardons, and that number is expected to jump to 36,000 or more this year. That’s up from 16,000 just a few years ago.

The steep climb is also because more private businesses are sprouting up advertising help with the pardon process — a service that can cost $500 or more.

Corita Harty, director of pardons and clemency for the National Parole Board, said most who apply are granted, if they have proven themselves law-abiding citizens. But she said strict rules are in place — including completion of sentence, payment of all court-ordered fines and a waiting period of three to five years.

“They aren’t just doled out,” she said.

Dangerous offenders and “lifers” with murder raps are ineligible, but all other offenders can apply for a pardon that essentially seals off their criminal record. Most people seeking pardons are for “relatively minor” offences such as petty theft, impaired driving and pot possession.

About 10% of Canada’s population has a criminal record, and about 5% are eligible for a pardon. About half apply.

Harty said a pardon doesn’t wipe out a criminal record, it just sets it aside. If the person is convicted of another offence, the pardon can be revoked.

“It’s a stringent process, but one that contributes to our overall mandate of public safety because it facilitates integration of people in society as law-abiding citizens,” she said. “And it works, because 97% of those who receive pardons, those stay in effect.”

In a recent performance report tabled in Parliament, the National Parole Board noted the workload spike from increasing requests had created a “serious situation” for the program. But Harty said the backlog problem has now been addressed and the process is speedier despite the rising tide of new requests.

Keri Wallis, manager of the Montreal office of the National Pardon Centre, said the higher demand for pardons is due to greater scrutiny for jobs, adoption or travel.

Many just want to remove the “stigma” of a criminal record on their file, which is open for the public to see in some provinces.

She said their for-fee service is “guaranteed” as offenders rarely get turned down if they fill the requirements.

“If the person serves their sentence and they have good conduct, they should not have any problem,” Wallis said.

“The only way you can get turned down is if you re-offend or if you have a little mishap with the law.”

Harty said applications facilitated by third parties that often charge “exorbitant fees” do not get processed in any preferential order.

KATHLEEN.HARRIS@SUNMEDIA.CA

To view the original article please click the link below:

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/2009/02/22/8481056-sun.html

Some of his fellow inmates had explained to him that if you wait 7 years after getting out of prison your criminal record with be expunged automatically. I want to make it clear that such is not the case. A criminal record NEVER goes away until you make the application to have it removed. In other words, until you apply for your pardon the record is staying put.

Here are a few things to consider:

• Does 10% include people arrested but found not guilty?
• Does 10% include people who have obtained Canada pardons?
• Does 10% include people who were only questioned by police but never charged?

The problem is that there are criminal records and then there are criminal records? In the vague sense a criminal record is any type of documentation attesting to a confrontation with the law and subsequent police intervention. In the specific sense a criminal record is a documented guilty conviction with registration of the offenders name in CPIC (Canadian Police Information System). A criminal record is not just black and white.

The problem is that even if we answered all the questions above it would still be extremely difficult to assess the actual number of criminals, or people living with a criminal record, in Canada. But the 10% solution is a good compromise. And while it may seem like a relatively large percent of the population it really isn’t. One thing I like to tell people is that crime is not going anywhere. Put all the indivdual and societal blames aside for a moment and consider that policing is a job someone is paid to do. If that person isn’t making arrests there is no more job. This is not to imply the the police make arrests without due cause. It is just to point out that policing is a career. 

Let’s face it. For all the good people do in the world we still haven’t found a way to stop people from doing bad. And so long as they do we will always have the police there to catch as many of them as they can. And besides, at least with the cases I deal with, it is mostly just people making mistakes. In other words, all those criminals out there are just a bunch of people being human.