According to the Canadian government, approximately 3.8 million Canadian citizens have a criminal record. These include people who have been convicted of crimes. Though you may be surprised that it also consists of those whose charges were either dropped later or dismissed because they had such charges recorded as non-conviction information on your record.

Having a record can make it challenging to get work or travel, consequently influencing you in ways you might not realize. It is possible that you can find yourself with a record of something which happened years ago that you were unaware of. As you learn that you have a rap sheet, you might be unsure how to deal with it, what it is for, or if you are able to eliminate it.

If a person is convicted of a crime, it is possible to acquire a Pardon or a Record Suspension of their record under certain circumstances and after a certain period of time has elapsed. Just as a criminal charge, until an outcome is reached or a stay of proceedings or an acquittal is obtained, your record may contain non-conviction information. Understanding legal terminology and grammar is your first step in clearing your reputation.

Meaning of Charges Dropped

When the charges against you are dropped following your court case, it indicates that a legal decision was made other than guilty. Acquittal, dismissal, suspension of proceedings, or withdrawal of the allegations are all examples of cases where a legal decision was made other than guilty. The defendant could be captured after the arrest, and any fingerprints or pictures were taken, if any were taken. When the charge gets dropped, it means that it was never brought and that the case was never tried.

If charges are dropped is there any chance of having a criminal record?

Until your legal situation is dealt with, your history of crime will nonetheless be present.

A criminal record can create problems in the following situations:

  • Job application
  • Loan application
  • Renting a place
  • Trips abroad
  • Child Adoption

If you do find yourself at odds with the functions and goals due to non-conviction material being revealed and used to justify discriminatory action against you, the opposite is true.

Charges aren’t the only thing associated with a criminal record. You could be arrested, charged, and acquitted without there being any evidence of wrongdoing, but you will still have a record. The information about charges dropped on somebody’s record may or may not be disclosed to a background check seeker and may vary. The type and quantity of information provided are often determined by the types and limitations of the request.

Your criminal record check is the only method to find out whether your record is clean. On the other hand, if you have a list of offenses in many situations, you can take measures to clean your record.

Does File Destruction Help you?

When you have been charged with a crime but not convicted, a File Destruction will ensure there will be no record of your legal problems coming back to haunt you. If you are advised that a Pardon or a Record Suspension is not required, don’t let that optimistic information lead you astray. Your fingerprints, pictures, and any other information related to your arrest are destroyed with a File Destruction. You may need to file a written request to the police for your file to be deleted, but that request may be denied.

Making sure your record is clean?

Your non-conviction record could be included in your criminal background check. To be certain that your record is clean, request an exhaustive criminal record check. But if you have a professional aide, your chances of finding a perfect answer are much greater.

If you’re looking for a Criminal Record Suspension, Record Destruction, or US Entry Waiver, get in touch with us today to see how we can help!