- 1). Complete the minimum time limit. Before attempting to remove a criminal record in Canada, Canadian laws oblige that you wait for a certain period of time beyond the term of your sentence. During this time, you are required to demonstrate that you have once again become a law-abiding citizen. The exact waiting times vary greatly according to the nature of the conviction or crime accused of. This can be a little as none for "not guilty" verdicts or as long as five years for more serious crimes.
- 2). Apply for a pardon. Canadian authorities recognize that it is possible for previous offenders to lead a crime-free life. For that reason, the National Parole Board can grant pardons which allow individuals' criminal records to be removed or rather sealed from the public, making it easier to find employment and obtain credit among other things. To be able to apply for a pardon in Canada, you must have completed the term of the sentence ordered by the judge and waited three to five years, depending on the nature of your offence. You can apply through a firm of attorneys specializing in Canadian pardons, many of whom are available online.
- 3). Apply for a Purge and File Destruction. Even though you might have been initially accused of a crime but subsequently acquitted of the charge, the fact remains that documents were generated with your personal details on them during police arrests and court proceedings. The most appropriate way to deal with such records it is with a Purge and File Destruction, which allows your attorney to have all traces of police arrests and court appearances destroyed. Attorneys usually contact the actual courts and police stations involved in order to remove criminal records from the Canadian Police Information Center (CPIC).
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