In Ontario, the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015 (PRCRA) sets the standards that govern how police record checks are conducted and what is included in the check, for screening purposes such as employment or volunteering. The Act authorizes three different types of police record checks:
Relevant Definitions:
Non-conviction information: means information concerning the fact that an individual was charged with a criminal offence if the charge,
Volunteer: means a person who performs a service but who receives no compensation for doing so other than an allowance for expenses or an honorarium, and excludes a person receiving some other form of credit such as academic credit or fulfilling a sentence requirement.
Vulnerable Person: means a person who, because of his or her age, a disability or other circumstances, whether temporary or permanent,
In addition to checking past and current criminal records and local police contact information, the PVSC includes a search of the record suspended (formerly pardoned) sex offender database through the RCMP. As NRPS does not have direct access to these records, we are reliant on the RCMP to complete this end of the search and provide us with a response.
When submitting a VS query to the RCMP, the CPIC system initially attempts to identify a possible match to a sexual offence record for which a record suspension (formerly pardon) has been granted, based on the surname and given name of the individual. If this query does not identify the possible existence of a record, the system performs a subsequent query based on the gender and birth date of the individual. If this query locates a similar date of birth/same gender in the criminal and record suspended records, we receive a prompt for the submission of fingerprints to verify or refute the existence of a record suspended sex offender record.
If fingerprints are required in order to complete a PVSC, the NRPS Records & Information Management Unit will notify the applicant by telephone or email with information and instructions on how to book an appointment time. Fingerprint appointments are currently available Monday - Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 pm at 5700 Valley Way Niagara Falls. Fingerprints are submitted electronically to the RCMP with an immediate turnaround time when there is no information on file.
Individuals affected by this will need to complete the following process if they wish to continue in order to receive their PVSC:
As of November 1, 2018, community organizations, charities and sport groups are no longer entitled to use police checks as a screening tool when considering youth for employment or volunteer work.
In accordance with Ontario's Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015 and the Youth Criminal Justice Act, police services can only provide Record Checks to applicants who are under the age of 18 and applying for positions with municipal, provincial or federal governments.
As a result, police are not permitted to provide record checks for youths seeking a position with non-government organizations, such as sports groups, not-for-profit agencies, charities, hospitals and school boards.
The Niagara Regional Police Service requires 2 pieces of government issued identification (one with a photo) in order to process police record check applications. Examples of acceptable Identification are:
Please have on hand proof of address should this information not be available on the identification that you are presenting. Utility bills, lease agreements or government mail with your name and current address can be accepted as proof of address when accompanied by photo identification and confirmation of date of birth.
An applicant who has had a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) completed, may make application to have certain non-conviction information excluded from the results.
Requests for reconsideration must be made by the applicant in writing no later than 45 days after receiving the record. Submit to:
Niagara Regional Police Service
Attention: Records & Information Management Unit
5700 Valley Way.
Niagara Falls, Ont. L2E 1X8
Please include any and all information you may deem relevant in order to assist in our deliberations (including your name, date of birth, and incident numbers if available), and ensure you include a return mailing address in your correspondence. Upon reviewing a request, the Niagara Regional Police Service will take the following criteria into consideration:
You will be informed in writing of the final decision made by the Reconsideration Panel and be provided with a general reason for acceptance or denial within 30 days of receipt of the reconsideration request.
Please note that removal of any information will only be done if there is a substantive reason to support it. Removal will not be done strictly at the request of the applicant because disclosure of the contact might affect their chances of securing a volunteer or paid position.
For more information on police record checks (types, where to go, certified checks, etc.) please visit the RCMP website.
For more information on screening for volunteer organizations please visit the Volunteer Canada website.
For more information on human rights and employment please visit:
For more information from the Government of Canada on the essential steps for screening persons applying to work as volunteers please visit their Best Practice Guidelines for Screening Volunteers.
You can apply online at Online Police Record Check Application Page (please note that a $9.95 processing / authentication fee will be charged by the third party service provider).
You can also apply in person at any of the NRPS locations throughout the Region. You will need two pieces of government issued identification (one with a photo) and proof of a permanent address within the Region.
All police record checks are processed on a first come, first served basis.
The following are forms that can be printed and filled out, and then dropped off at the Records Counter at 5700 Valley Way in Niagara Falls, or at the Front Desk of any NRPS District location.
$50 Employment - PCRC, PCRJMC, PVSC - (including foster parents, paid student placements, etc.)
$20 Volunteer - PVSC - (including kinship, etc.), a letter from the agency must be provided
Free Volunteer - PCRC, PCRJMC - *as of April 1st 2022, a letter from the agency must be provided
$20 Unpaid Student Placement - PCRC, PCRJMC, PVSC
(Additional $9.95 processing / authentication fee will be charged by the third party service provider for all online applications)
Fees are non-refundable
Fact Sheet for Volunteer Agencies regarding the letter that must be provided for all volunteers.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Payment Policy Adjustment
Please be advised that effective October 1, 2018 payment must be made by Debit, Visa or MasterCard.
Cash is no longer accepted.
