Some significant changes to the criminal record check process may impact students and their employers.
Last year the Police Record Check Reform Act became law requiring police services to provide police record checks based on new rules for release of information says OPP Acting Sergeant Shona Camirand.
There will continue to be three types of police record checks:
- Criminal Record Check,
- Criminal Record and
- Judicial Matters Check and Vulnerable Sector Check.
A list of the information disclosed for each of these checks can be found here.
The Youth Criminal Justice Act regulates the release of youth criminal records, and the new PRCRA further restricts the release of this information. As a result, the North Bay OPP no longer accepts criminal record check applications from people under the age of 18 years, unless, the police record check is required by the government; municipal, provincial or federal. In those instances, police record check results will only be sent directly to the government employee requesting the information. Applicants will be required to provide this name and address.
"Due to the above, criminal record checks for applicants over the age of 18 years will no longer include any youth records (current or historical) that exist possibly resulting in misleading clear criminal record check results," explains Camirand.
"These changes will impact some students in post-secondary education programs who require criminal record checks for placement purposes as well as youth who require criminal record checks for non-government employment."
With the approach of spring which, traditionally, sees an increase in youth seasonal employment and post-secondary education planning, the public, employers and educational facilities should be aware of the impacts of these new rules on recruitment processes.
Employers, agencies, and organizations requiring police record checks for their employees and volunteers are reminded that it is their responsibility to identify what level of check is required. They are also reminded that Vulnerable Sector Checks can only be completed for applicants in positions which meet the definition and criteria in the Criminal Records Act.
