If you were a youth tried in an adult court before the modern youth justice laws, those convictions do not automatically disappear. You must apply for a federal Record Suspension (pardon) to clear your RCMP file, and the Parole Board of Canada processing fee for this application is currently $50 CAD.
Many Canadians carry a heavy burden from decades ago, believing that any mistake made before they turned 18 automatically vanished from their record. 📁 However, the Canadian criminal justice system is incredibly complex, especially regarding historical offences. If you were a teenager in Toronto, Vancouver, or Halifax during the 1980s or 1990s, the laws were very different. Under the old Young Offenders Act (YOA), a youth involved in a serious incident could be transferred and tried as an adult.
When a youth is tried in an adult court, the resulting conviction is legally classified as an adult criminal record. 🔒 This means it is stored permanently in the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database operated by the RCMP. To finally clear your name and improve your employment opportunities across Canada, you must complete the federal Record Suspension process. Understanding how to handle these archived files is the key to successfully navigating the system.
Step-by-Step Process in Canada
The rules governing federal pardons apply equally to every resident, whether you live in Alberta, Manitoba, or Nova Scotia. 🏛 The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) treats an adult conviction from your teenage years exactly the same as an offence committed at age 40. Here is the general process most applicants follow to unseal and pardon these historical records.
Step 1: Obtaining Your RCMP Fingerprints
The first step is always to figure out exactly what is on your official RCMP file. 🔍 You cannot rely on your memory from 30 years ago. You must visit a local accredited fingerprinting agency to capture your digital fingerprints. These are sent directly to the RCMP in Ottawa, who will mail you a certified copy of your adult criminal record.
Step 2: Identifying the Original Courthouse
Once you receive your RCMP printout, look carefully at the list of convictions to see where you were sentenced. 🏨 Because the offence happened decades ago, the specific local courthouse might have moved or merged with another facility. You must locate the correct provincial or superior court that handled the adult trial.
Step 3: Requesting Archived Court Documents
This step is often the most difficult for historical records. 🗄️ You must request a certified “Court Information” document and proof of your sentence from the courthouse. Because the file is so old, it is likely stored in an off-site provincial archive or saved on microfiche. You may need to wait several weeks for the court clerks to retrieve and certify the documents.
Step 4: Completing Local Police Record Checks
The Parole Board requires you to prove that you have been living a lawful life. 👮 You must obtain a Local Police Records Check from every local police department in every city or town where you have lived for the past five years. Whether you lived in Calgary or a small town in New Brunswick, you must contact their local detachments.
Step 5: Submitting the Application to the PBC
After gathering your RCMP record, archived court documents, and local police checks, you must complete the official Record Suspension forms. ✍️ You can submit the package through the mail or use the modern PBC digital portal. If your historical offence was a summary conviction, your waiting period was likely met decades ago, making you immediately eligible to apply.
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
Clearing a historical record involves various administrative fees. 💵 The federal government has standardized the core costs, but local fees can vary. Here is what you can expect to pay in Canadian dollars (CAD):
- Parole Board Application Fee: The official government fee to process a Record Suspension is $50 CAD.
- RCMP Fingerprinting: Getting your certified criminal record usually costs between $50 and $85 CAD depending on the local agency.
- Archived Court Documents: Courthouses generally charge search fees and per-page copy fees, usually totalling $15 to $40 CAD for older files.
- Law Firm Assistance: If you hire a legal professional to track down missing archival documents, expect to pay between $800 and $2,000 CAD for their services.
| Trial Type | Where the Record Lives | Record Suspension Needed? |
| Tried as a Youth (Youth Court) | Youth Records Repository | No, usually sealed automatically |
| Tried as an Adult (Adult Court) | CPIC Adult Database | Yes, mandatory federal pardon |
| Youth transferred to Adult facility | CPIC Adult Database | Yes, mandatory federal pardon |
How Long Does the Process Take?
Retrieving documents from the 1980s or 1990s takes immense patience. ⏳ Simply gathering the archived court records and local police checks can take 3 to 6 months. Once your complete application is received by the Parole Board of Canada, the official processing timelines begin.
As of May 2026, the PBC aims to process applications for a summary conviction within 6 months. 📅 If your historical adult charge was a serious indictable offence, the Board has up to 12 months to review your file and issue a final decision.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) apply retroactively?
Generally, no. The YCJA came into effect in 2003. If you were tried as an adult under the older laws, your record remains an adult record today and requires a formal Record Suspension to be cleared.
Will my employer see this historical record?
Yes. Unless you receive a Record Suspension, a standard criminal background check will reveal your adult convictions, even if the offence occurred 30 years ago when you were a teenager.
Do I need a pardon if my youth record was sealed?
If you were exclusively tried in a youth court and received a youth sentence, your record is typically sealed automatically after a certain period of good behaviour. You generally do not need a pardon for purely youth records.
What happens if the courthouse destroyed the old records?
If the courthouse legally destroyed your physical file due to age, the court clerk will provide a formal letter stating that no records exist. The Parole Board accepts this letter as proof that you attempted to get the documents.
Can I cross the US border with an unpardoned historical record?
Any criminal record, regardless of age, can lead to a denial at the US border. Furthermore, the US does not recognize Canadian pardons, so you may need to apply for a US Entry Waiver even after clearing your Canadian file.
Leave a Reply