How much does it cost to get a criminal record suspension in Mississauga?

Having a criminal record can create massive barriers in your daily life. It can prevent you from securing meaningful employment, renting an apartment in Mississauga, volunteering at your child’s school, or travelling internationally. Fortunately, the Canadian justice system believes in rehabilitation. Individuals who have completed their sentences and demonstrated good conduct in the community for a specific period may apply for a criminal record suspension (formerly known as a pardon).

The process of obtaining a record suspension is governed by federal law, specifically the Criminal Records Act, but it requires gathering documents from local municipal and provincial agencies. Many applicants find the administrative process overwhelming, as a single mistake can result in the application being rejected or delayed by months. In this guide, we will outline the precise steps you need to take in Mississauga, the associated costs, and the timelines you can expect.

Step-by-Step Process for a Record Suspension in Mississauga

You cannot simply fill out a form online and receive a suspension. The process requires careful coordination between local police, the provincial courts in Peel Region, and the federal government.

Step 1: Getting Your Fingerprints Taken

The very first step is to obtain your official criminal record from the RCMP. To do this, you must have your digital fingerprints taken. In Mississauga, you can visit an accredited private fingerprinting agency or go directly to the Peel Regional Police headquarters. These fingerprints are sent to Ottawa, and the RCMP will mail you your official criminal record document. 🗏

Step 2: Requesting Court Information

Once you receive your RCMP record, you must obtain a Court Information Form for every single conviction listed. If your charges were handled locally, you must contact the criminal court clerk at the A. Grenville and William Davis Courthouse in Brampton. You will need to prove that you have paid all fines, victim surcharges, and restitution orders related to your offences.

Step 3: Obtaining Local Police Record Checks

Next, you must obtain a Local Police Records Check from every city you have lived in during the past five years. If you have been a resident of Mississauga for that entire period, you will submit this request to the Peel Regional Police. This step proves to the government that you have not had any recent interactions with local law enforcement that might not yet appear on your RCMP record.

Step 4: Submitting to the Parole Board of Canada

After compiling the RCMP record, court documents, local police checks, and completing the comprehensive application forms, you or your law firm will submit the final package to the Parole Board of Canada. They are the only federal agency with the authority to grant or deny your record suspension.

How Much Does it Cost in Mississauga?

While the federal processing fee has been significantly reduced in recent years, you must still budget for various local administrative costs:

• Parole Board of Canada Fee: The official federal application fee is exactly $50 CAD. This fee is non-refundable, even if your application is denied.
• Fingerprinting Fees: Having your digital fingerprints taken by an accredited agency or the Peel Regional Police generally costs between $50 and $75 CAD.
• Court Document Fees: Retrieving your certified court documents from the Brampton Courthouse may involve small administrative fees, usually ranging from $10 to $30 CAD depending on the volume of documents.
• Local Police Checks: The Peel Regional Police typically charge around $65 CAD to process a local records check for a suspension application.
• Law Firm Fees: Hiring a legal professional or agency to handle the entire application process usually costs between $750 and $1,500 CAD. This investment ensures your application is flawless and avoids costly delays.

How Long Does the Process Take?

Before you can even apply, you must complete your waiting period, which begins only after your entire sentence (including jail time, probation, and payment of fines) is finished. The wait time is 5 years for a summary conviction and 10 years for an indictable offence. Once your application is submitted, the Parole Board of Canada has service standards: they aim to process applications for summary convictions within 6 months, and applications for indictable offences within 12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Author: lawyerinfo.ca