If you receive an adult criminal conviction before your youth record is sealed, the youth offences become “mingled” with your adult record in the RCMP’s CPIC database. To clear both, you must apply for a formal Record Suspension (pardon) through the Parole Board of Canada, which currently carries a basic government fee of $50 CAD.
Making a mistake in your younger years is something many Canadians want to leave in the past. Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), youth records are generally sealed automatically after a certain period of good behaviour. 📈 However, a major legal trap exists: if you are convicted of an adult crime while your youth record is still active, those youth charges permanently attach to your adult criminal file.
This “mingling” means your teenage mistakes are now visible to employers, landlords, and border agents conducting background checks. Fortunately, the Canadian justice system allows you to clear these mingled records by applying for a federal Record Suspension. 🔍 Because navigating the RCMP database and the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) can be complex, many applicants choose to hire a Canadian law firm to handle the paperwork properly.
Step-by-Step Process for Clearing Mingled Records in Canada
Whether you live in Toronto, Vancouver, or a smaller town in Alberta, the rules for federal Record Suspensions apply equally across the country. You must gather documents from every local police station and courthouse where you were ever charged. 📍 Here is the step-by-step process to separate and seal your past.
Step 1: Obtaining Your RCMP Fingerprints
The very first step is to get your fingerprints taken at a local police station or an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting agency. These fingerprints are sent to Ottawa to generate your official Criminal Record from the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC). 📄 This document will explicitly show which youth and adult charges are mingled together on your federal file.
Step 2: Securing Court Dispositions
Once you have your CPIC record, you must obtain court documents (dispositions) for every single charge listed, both youth and adult. You will need to contact the exact provincial courthouses where you appeared, such as the Ontario Court of Justice or the Provincial Court of British Columbia. 📖 The court clerks will provide certified documents proving exactly how you were sentenced and confirming that all fines or restitution were paid.
Step 3: Completing Sentences and Waiting Periods
You cannot apply for a Record Suspension until you have completed all sentences, including probation, fines, and jail time. After the last sentence is completed, a mandatory waiting period begins. ⌚ Generally, you must wait 5 years for a summary conviction or 10 years for an indictable offence before the PBC will accept your application.
Step 4: Requesting Local Police Records Checks
Next, you must submit a Local Police Records Check form to the police department in every city you have lived in for the past five years. For example, if you lived in Calgary and Edmonton, both the Calgary Police Service and Edmonton Police Service must clear you. 👮 This proves to the Parole Board that you have been of good conduct and have not had any recent interactions with law enforcement.
Step 5: Filing with the Parole Board of Canada
After compiling all fingerprints, court dispositions, and local police checks, you will assemble the final application. You must also include a detailed Measurable Benefit/Sustained Rehabilitation form explaining how the pardon will help you. 📮 Mail the complete package, along with the $50 CAD processing fee, to the Parole Board of Canada in Ottawa for review.
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
While the federal application fee was recently reduced to make pardons more accessible, obtaining the necessary documentation still costs money. Here is a breakdown of the typical costs in CAD:
| Expense Type | Estimated Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Parole Board of Canada Fee | $50 |
| RCMP Fingerprinting Service | $50 – $85 |
| Court Dispositions (Per Courthouse) | $10 – $30 |
| Local Police Checks | $30 – $70+ |
| Lawyer or Agency Fees (Optional) | $700 – $2,000+ |
How Long Does the Process Take?
The time it takes to gather all your documents usually ranges from 3 to 6 months, depending on how fast the courts and police respond. Once the Parole Board of Canada receives your complete application, their official processing time is 6 months for summary convictions and up to 12 months for indictable offences. 📅 Keep in mind that this does not include the mandatory 5 or 10-year waiting period after your sentence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does “mingled” actually mean on a criminal record?
Mingled means that your youth charges have been legally merged with your adult charges on the CPIC system. They lose their special youth privacy protections and become permanently visible unless you secure a Record Suspension.
Will a pardon erase my mingled record completely?
A Record Suspension does not erase the record; it sets it aside and seals it. Federal databases will no longer show the record to standard employers or landlords, but it can technically be reinstated if you commit a new crime.
Do I have to list my youth offences on the pardon application?
Yes. If your youth records are mingled with your adult record, you must disclose and provide court documents for every single charge on your CPIC file, regardless of your age at the time of the offence.
Can the US border see my mingled youth record?
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) does not recognize Canadian pardons. If they downloaded your CPIC record before your pardon was granted, they will see both the youth and adult charges and may require a US Entry Waiver.
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