If you do have a conviction on record, you could be denied a job, the ability to rent certain properties, and the ability to travel across borders. This is why those with convictions wish to be rid of them. The idea of one mistake long ago haunting the rest of your life is a discouraging thought. 

Some may believe that in time, convictions will just disappear. While in some cases this can happen, there are many factors that are tied to those cases. 

With all of this in mind, if you have a conviction, how long will it follow you? 

How Long do Convictions Last

If an adult over the age of 18 has a conviction, the conviction isn’t permanent but it will last for up to 80 years before being removed from their record. In more severe cases the waiting time can be as long as 100 years. 

Although convictions aren’t permanent, they can, more often than not, outlive the convicted and in cases when the convicted outlasts the conviction, it is most likely no longer of use to them. 

Young Offenders

If you’re under the age of 18 when you were convicted, you could have the conviction wiped from your record following an access period. After the access period attached to the young offender’s conviction has ended, the conviction is taken off of their record without the need of a pardon. This is due to the court systems being much more lenient on young offenders. 

However, if the young offender commits any further crimes the access period is lengthened. Also, if during the access period the young offender turns 18 and commits another offence, all of their youth convictions turn into adult convictions and they will require a pardon.  

Pardons

A distinction must be made when talking about erasing a criminal conviction. With pardons, the conviction is only sealed away. While the conviction will not be visible to employers or landlords, it will still be visible to the government and can be accessed under specific circumstances. Also, if the conviction was a sexual offence, the conviction will be suspended but the convicted may still come up in certain searches.  

When you have a criminal record, it can really put a damper on the rest of your life. Renting property, travelling, finding jobs and more will be made more difficult when you have a criminal record. While convictions do have an expiration date, it is more than likely that when that date comes, it will no longer be of use to the convicted.

Luckily, there is always the option of a pardon. While pardons don’t entirely remove convictions from government records, they will conceal them from the public, allowing you to live without your criminal record weighing you down.  

If you have a criminal record and it is affecting your day to day life; a pardon is the best solution. Contact Pardon Canada at 1 (800) 543-2137 for professional assistance and expert advice.

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So, what happens if you commit one of these offences under the age of 18? A young offender is someone between the ages of 12 and 17 who has committed an offence. In law, young offenders are tried differently than adults over the age of 18. In cases with young offenders, they are typically sent to rehabilitation centres and cannot be sent to prison.

What is Youth Record?

When young offenders have charges laid against them, it remains on their record, including any findings of guilt, sentences received and any other information regarding completed sentences. 

The time frame a youth record remains on file is entirely dependent on the outcome of the case. Young offenders are given special rights such as having their cases heard in youth courts, having their identity excluded from any media coverage of the case, and receiving less severe penalties. 

How Long Does a Youth Record Last?

When a young offender has a minor conviction on their record it remains there for 3 years. If a young offender has a more serious conviction on their record, it remains there for up to 5 years. These time frames begin when the last sentencing was given to the young offender. 

For very serious crimes such as violent crimes or sexual assault, the conviction can remain for 10 or more years on a young offender’s record. Also, these very serious offences will remain on the young offender’s record after they turn 18 and will remain there until the end of a set amount of time. However, this isn’t always the case.

There is a length of time a youth record is open which is called the “access period.” During this access period, there are some who can see what is in a young offender’s record, including police, courts, and others. 

Different types of sentences have different lengths of access periods. 

• Found guilty with an absolute discharge – 1 year after found guilty
• Found guilty with a conditional discharge – 3 years after found guilty
• Found guilty of a summary conviction offence and get a sentence other than an absolute or conditional discharge – 3 years after the sentence is completed
• Found guilty of an indictable conviction offence and get a sentence other than an absolute or conditional discharge – 5 years after the sentence is completed

If other crimes have been committed after a young offender receives a record, their earlier records stay open longer. If during the access period the young offender turns 18 and another crime is committed, it becomes part of their adult record. This will become a permanent record that can only be removed with a pardon.

When a Pardon is Required 

When a young offender turns the age of 18, their record should be removed following the end of the access period. 

However, if youth records have not been pardoned and later adult convictions follow, both your adult and youth records will be locked in until a pardon is received for both youth and adult records. 

If the young offender only acquired convictions before the age of 18 and no later adult convictions were added, the record of the offence will then be sealed following the end of the access period. 

If someone under the age of 18 commits a crime, they are treated somewhat differently then adult offenders, with their records being concealed after they turn 18 and their access period has ended. However, they will still have consequences and further convictions will require a pardon to be removed. 

If you already have a criminal record and it is affecting your day to day life; a pardon is the best solution. Contact Pardon Canada at 1 (800) 543-2137 for professional assistance and expert advice.

The post Pardons in Canada: Do You Need a Pardon for a Crime Committed as a Minor? appeared first on Federal Pardons and Waivers.

Because theft is considered a crime of moral turpitude, having a theft charge on your criminal record could lead to you being denied entry at the United States border and you will be required to obtain a US Entry Waiver to be readmitted.  

If you are charged with theft of a vehicle, however, the process works a little differently. Through this article, we are going to touch on the consequences of vehicle theft and the process it takes to get a pardon for vehicle theft. 

Types of Theft

Most theft charges are broken up into two categories, theft over $5,000 and theft under $5,000. Theft under $5,000 is considered a summary offence and theft over $5,000 is considered an indictment offence – summary offences having less severe consequences and indictment offences having more severe consequences. However, there are other types of theft and theft-related offences such as possession of stolen property, theft of telecommunications, and the subject of this article, theft of a vehicle. 

Vehicle Theft in Canada 

When you are charged with vehicle theft in Canada, it is similar to theft over $5,000 and carries similar penalties. This means that if someone was caught stealing a vehicle they would be charged with an indictable offence and could face prison time. However, when someone steals a car, the vehicle does not require a valuation to decide if the vehicle is over or under $5,000. Vehicle theft contrasts with joyriding, with the arresting officer at the scene deciding whether to lay a joyriding charge or a theft of $5,000 charge based on the scenario. 

If the charge was considered joyriding, the driver of the vehicle would face a summary offence. Joyriding consists of someone taking a vehicle with the intention of driving, using or operating it but then return it to the owner. Joyriding also applies to someone unlawfully gaining entry into a vehicle but not driving it. 

Gaining a Pardon for Vehicle Theft in Canada

If you have been charged with vehicle theft in Canada, the process for obtaining a pardon to have it removed would work the same as it would for any indictable offence. You will have to wait a total of 10 years after completing your conviction, including paying any fines, serving a sentence in jail, or any other court-mandated task you have been assigned before applying for a pardon.   

If you have been charged with joyriding, it is treated as a summary offence and you will have to go through all of the same procedures as any summary offence. You will have to wait 5 years after finishing your sentence and all that it entails before applying for a pardon. 

If you were caught trying to steal a vehicle, you could end up with either a summary or an indictable offence. Either way, you will have a blemish on your criminal record that will make day to day life harder than it should be. One mistake shouldn’t be the end of your life, get a pardon and move on with your life.  

If you have an indictment or summary conviction that is affecting your life, with things such as job and apartment hunting or travelling and would like to get your life back on track, Pardons Canada has years of experience in getting Canadians pardons. Our team of professionals can help you through the pardon application process and help you move on with your life. Call 1 (800) 543-2137 today for professional assistance with Canadian federal pardons and waivers.

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