John Howard Society of Newfoundland

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John Howard Society of Newfoundland Labrador Inc

• Pardon Information Session

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JHS

• The John Howard Society was established in 1951.
  It serves more than 1000 clients per year.
• Mandate it to work with clients with prior
  conflict with the law. This may be current or
  historical.
• Services offered in St. Johns, Corner Brook
  Stephenville.

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JHS Programs and Services

• Howard House
• Home for Youth
• Learning Resource Program
• Prison Liaison Family Services
• 121 Prison Visitation
• Prison Library

• CSTEP
• Skills Link
• Linkages
• Employment Services
• Youth Services
• Corcan Project

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Agenda

• Housekeeping
• Purpose of session
• Q A

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Purpose

• To discuss what a pardon is and is not.
• To determine if you are currently eligible for a
  pardon or when you might become eligible.
• To provide information regarding the specific
  steps required to obtain a pardon.
• To discuss options to overcome barriers
  associated with a criminal record.

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Housekeeping

• Session will last 1 hour
• Please save questions to the end of the session
• Confidentiality
• Please limit questions to general information.
  Personal details may be discussed individually
  after the session or at a later date.

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Pardon

• A process in which those convicted of a criminal
  offence can apply to have their record kept
  separate from other criminal records.
• Record is removed from CPIC
• Administered by the National Parole Board

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Quick Facts

• Ten percent of Canadians have a criminal record.
• The National Parole Board is responsible for
  processing request for a Pardon
• Each year almost 25,000 applications are
  received.
• For eligible candidates, 99 of applications are
  approved.

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Pardon - Limitations

• Does not erase your criminal record.
• May not affect entry/visa privledges of other
  countries.
• Provincial/Municipal police may keep record
• Those convicted of certain sexual offences may be
  granted but file may be flagged.
• Prohibitions are not cancelled when pardon is
  granted.

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Eligibility

• Absolute or conditional discharges are
  automatically removed from CPIC 1 or 3 year(s)
  after court decision. No application required.

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Eligibility

• Indictable offences 5 years after sentence is
  served.
• Summary Offences 3 years after sentence is
  served.
• Your sentence is served when all supervision,
  fines, surcharges, restitutions or compensation
  orders are completed. If you have outstanding
  fines, your waiting period doesnt begin until
  these are paid in full.

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STEPS to APPLICATION

• 1. Ensure you are eligible
• Determine the date of your sentence
• Determine whether offence is summary or
  indictable
• Verify all outstanding fines etc have been paid.
• Provincial court should be able to provide this
  information to you upon request.
• If you owe fines you have not completed your
  waiting period unless your offence is more than
  15 years ago.

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Steps to Application

• 2. Complete set of fingerprints from the RNC
• Monday Friday, 9-5. No appointment necessary
• Cost is 50
• Will be completed and given to you that day.
• Be sure to tell them that this is for a Pardon

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Steps to Application

• Mail fingerprints to the RCMP.
• 25 fee to be paid by certified check or money
  order.
• Allow 8-12 weeks for processing.
• Be sure to keep a copy of fingerprints before it
  is mailed.

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Steps to Application

• Once you receive documents from RCMP.
• Have court documents completed from Provincial
  Court or court in which you were convicted.
  Newfoundland doesnt currently charge.
• May take one week and likely to be mailed to
  you.

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Steps to Application

• Have Local Police Record Check completed by RNC
  and any local police if you have lived in a
  different town in the past 5 years.
• RNC charges 25. Other jurisdictions have
  varying costs ranging from free to 50.
• RNC takes about 1 week (or less) to provide this
  document.

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Steps to Application

• Copy all documents
• Complete application for pardon and mail all to
  National Parole Board with a 50 money order or
  certified check.
• Processing time varies but may take 6-18 months

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Pardons

• NOTE
• Your application may be considered more quickly
  if you have a letter from an employer specifying
  that pardon is a requirement of employment.
• Letter must specify your name, employers name and
  be on letterhead.

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Entry to other Countries

• A pardon is a Canadian designation and may not
  affect entry to other countries.
• Each country has its own rules (eg Waivers for
  USA)
• Pardon will not affect getting a Passport in most
  cases.

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Revocation

• If you commit an offence in the future your
  pardon can be revoked.
• If this happens, you can reapply once your
  waiting period is completed. Process is the same.

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Financial Assistance

• You are responsible for the costs of the pardon.
• However, if you are on income support through
  HRLE, you may request assistance in the costs.
  Requests are considered on an individual basis.
• HRLE will NOT contribute to outstanding fines.

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Questions?