Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015
On December 1, 2015, Ontario passed the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015. This Act limits how much criminal justice information about an individual can be shared with employers, volunteer agencies, and other organizations seeking individuals’ background checks.
Previously, Ontario did not have a clear, standardized framework governing how police record checks were conducted. Therefore, non-conviction and non-criminal records could be disclosed. This resulted in individuals facing barriers to obtain employment, volunteer work, or education. For example, sensitive information, such as mental health records, had been disclosed before.
The new Act creates three levels of checks, each one more stringent: a criminal record check, a criminal record and judicial matters check, and a vulnerable sectors check. As yet, not all police services have fully implemented the new legislation.
Contact our office to get a better understanding of how this all works!