If you have moved within the last 5 years, the Parole Board of Canada requires you to get a Local Police Records Check (LPRC) from the police detachment in every city you resided in. You must coordinate with each jurisdiction, and the standard PBC application fee remains $50 CAD.
Applying for a Record Suspension in Canada is a rigorous exercise in gathering paperwork, and one of the most vital documents is the Local Police Records Check (LPRC). This form proves to the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) that you have maintained good conduct in your community since your conviction. 📍 However, if you are a transient worker, a student, or someone who recently moved for a fresh start, this requirement becomes highly complex.
Canadian law mandates that the PBC investigates your behaviour for the entire 5 years leading up to your application. If you moved from Calgary to Toronto, or from rural Saskatchewan to Vancouver, your current local police force cannot vouch for your behaviour in your previous province. 💼 You must track down every police service from your recent past, a task that many applicants find so overwhelming they hire a law firm to manage the logistics.
Step-by-Step Process in Canada: Coordinating Multiple LPRCs
Gathering signatures from multiple police detachments requires organization and patience. Different municipal police forces and RCMP detachments have vastly different processing protocols. 📄 Here is the systematic approach you must take to fulfill the PBC’s requirements.
Step 1: Mapping Your 5-Year Residential History
Before you contact any police station, you must write down your exact residential history for the past 60 months. You need the precise street addresses, postal codes, and the exact months you lived there. 📅 Even if you only lived in an apartment in Montreal for three months during a summer job, you must identify the local police jurisdiction that covered that address.
Step 2: Submitting the LPRC to Your Current Police Force
You must start with the city where you live right now. Take your official PBC Local Police Records Check form, along with your official RCMP CPIC criminal record and two pieces of government-issued ID, to your local police station. 🏢
The current detachment will run your name through their internal Records Management System (RMS). They are looking for recent arrests, active investigations, or non-criminal police contacts (such as mental health calls) that might reflect on your “good conduct.” Once they fill out their section, they will return the form to you.
Step 3: Reaching Out to Previous Jurisdictions
Next, you must contact the police services for your previous addresses. You cannot skip this step; if you do, the PBC will simply reject your application. 📨 Call the non-emergency line of the previous police service (for example, the Edmonton Police Service or a specific rural RCMP detachment) and ask for their Records Department.
Many detachments will allow you to mail the blank LPRC form, a photocopy of your CPIC, notarized copies of your ID, and a certified cheque for their processing fee. Some larger cities allow you to apply for this check through an online portal. A law firm is highly beneficial here, as they routinely courier documents to multiple detachments and ensure the correct fees are enclosed.
Step 4: Compiling the Final Application
Once you receive all the completed LPRC forms back in the mail, you must ensure that every single box is checked correctly and that the police officers have stamped and dated the forms. A Local Police Records Check is only valid for 12 months from the date the officer signs it. ⌛ You must submit your complete Record Suspension application to the PBC before the oldest LPRC signature expires.
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
Each police detachment has the legal right to charge an administrative fee to process an LPRC. If you moved frequently, these fees can multiply quickly. 💰 Below are the estimated costs in CAD.
| Requirement / Service | Average Cost (CAD) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| PBC Application Fee | $50 | Flat federal fee paid to the Receiver General. |
| Current City LPRC Fee | $30 – $100 | Varies by municipal police or RCMP detachment. |
| Previous City LPRC Fee(s) | $30 – $100 per city | You must pay each detachment separately. |
| Notary / Courier Fees | $20 – $80 | To mail verified ID to out-of-province police. |
How Long Does the Process Take?
This is often the longest phase of preparing a Record Suspension application. A local police force typically takes 2 to 6 weeks to process an LPRC. ⌛ If you are mailing forms to three different provinces, the total time to get everything back can exceed 3 months.
Remember, the Parole Board’s official processing timeline (6 months for a summary conviction, 12 months for an indictable offence) does not even begin until they receive your fully completed application package. Delays at the local police level directly delay your pardon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What if I lived outside of Canada during the last 5 years?
If you lived in another country, you must obtain a police clearance certificate from that country’s national police force, translated into English or French, and include it with your Canadian LPRC documents.
Can the police refuse to sign my LPRC?
The police cannot refuse to process the form, but they can check a box indicating they have negative information about you. If they do, they must attach a report explaining why, which the PBC will review.
Do I need an LPRC if I was in prison?
If you were incarcerated during the last 5 years, you do not need an LPRC for the time spent inside the federal or provincial institution. You only need checks for the cities where you lived while on parole or after release.
Does the RCMP in Ottawa cover all jurisdictions?
No. The central RCMP provides your CPIC criminal record, but the LPRC is about local, community-level police contacts. You must contact the specific local detachments (RCMP or municipal) where you physically lived.
What if I cannot remember my exact previous addresses?
You must make every effort to find them. You can check old tax returns, bank statements, or credit reports. Providing false or incomplete addresses is a federal misrepresentation and will result in the refusal of your pardon.
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