What Is a Background Check in Canada?
Criminal record checks in Canada are done for a variety of reasons. Sometimes they are required for jobs, adoptions, foreign travel and volunteer work. Criminal record checks are done through the local policing agency, usually the RCMP.
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RCMP
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The Royal Canadian Mounted Police hold the record information for Canadian citizens. Their database is national. They have about 4.2 million records. The RCMP police all jurisdictions that don't have their own municipal policing system.
Identification
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Criminal record checks can be done using a person's name and birth date but fingerprints are used when there is doubt about a person's identity.
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Local RCMP
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In addition to RCMP checks, individuals can get a criminal record check through the local, municipal police force. This searches a different database than the one the national RCMP use.
Types of Record Checks
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Record checks can be done as part of the Criminal Records Review Program where 62 specific offenses are reviewed to see if an individual is unsuitable to work with children.
Police criminal record checks are done for organizations who want to find out if an employee or volunteer has a criminal record. They are done with the local police agency.
Mandatory Checks
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For some jobs, it is mandatory that a criminal record check be done. Teachers, doctors, nurses, dentists and other healthcare workers are just a few examples of careers that require criminal record checks. Anyone working with children also gets their criminal records checked.
Getting a Criminal Record Check
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To get a criminal record check you will need to get your fingerprints printed, you must state your reason for wanting a criminal record check and you must provide personal, identifying information.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Mounted police image by Peter Helin from Fotolia.com
