Police Record Checks

Residents of Ottawa can request three (3) types of Police Record Checks.

Before you apply, ask your organization which Police Records Check you need to apply for.

Ottawa residents only

You are required to show proof of your current Ottawa address.

If you currently live outside of Ottawa, you CANNOT request a records check from the Ottawa Police Service. You will need to attend your local police service.

Level 1 Criminal Record Check

This check is intended for applicants who are involved as a volunteer, employee or in any situation where a basic Criminal Record Check is requested (e.g., retail or immigration).

This check is NOT intended for applicants who are seeking volunteer and/or employment with vulnerable persons.

Information included in the Criminal Record check

• Criminal convictions from CPIC and/or local databases.
• Summary convictions, for five years, when identified.
• Findings of Guilt under the Youth Criminal Justice Act within the applicable disclosure period.

Information not included in the Criminal Record Check

• Outstanding entries, such as charges and warrants.
• Absolute and conditional discharges.
• Current judicial orders, including Peace Bonds, Probation and Prohibition orders under the Criminal Code of Canada.
• Convictions where a record suspension has been granted.
• Convictions under provincial statutes.
• Local police .
• Ministry of Transportation information (PARIS).
• Special Interest Police (SIP) category of CPIC.
• Family Court Restraining Orders.
• Foreign information.
• A Vulnerable Sector (VS) Query to ascertain if the applicant has been convicted of and granted a record suspension for any of the sexual offences that are listed in the schedule to the Criminal Record Act (CRA).
• Any reference to incidents involving mental health .
• Diversions will not be released as police and no reference to the occurrence is permitted (CC S. 717.4).
• Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) information beyond applicable disclosure period.
• Law Enforcement & Record (Managers) Network 10
• Any reference to contagious diseases.
• Dispositions including, but not limited to, Withdrawn, Dismissed, and cases of Not Criminally Responsible by Reason of Mental Disorder.

Please Note

Volunteers may possess a letter from the volunteer organization on official company letterhead stating that you are seeking a Record Check for the purposes of volunteering at the time of submission. This will waive a portion of the fee.

The Ottawa Police does not offer fingerprint services for this type of record check.

If you require a list of your convictions, you will be advised to attend a private fingerprinting agency.

Level 2 Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check

The Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check is a collection of offence information, including convictions, outstanding warrants, charges and judicial orders available from a local police agency's Record management system and other systems/Record where authorized.

This check is intended for applicants who are seeking volunteer and/or employment with agencies that require a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check. The agency has determined that a search of sex offenders with a record suspension is NOT required (e.g., border crossing or visa); therefore, this check is NOT intended for applicants who are seeking volunteer and/or employment with vulnerable persons.

Information included in the Criminal Record check

• Criminal convictions from CPIC and/or local databases.
• Summary convictions, for five years, when identified.
• Findings of Guilt under the Youth Criminal Justice Act within the applicable disclosure period.
• Outstanding entries, such as charges and warrants, judicial orders, Peace Bonds, Probation and Prohibition Orders. As per CPIC policy, information obtained from the Investigative Databank must be confirmed and authorized for release by the contributing agency.
• Absolute and conditional discharges for 1 or 3 years respectively.

Information not included in the Criminal Record Check

• Convictions where a record suspension has been granted.
• Convictions under provincial statutes.
• Local police .
• Ministry of Transportation information (PARIS).
• Special Interest Police (SIP) category of CPIC.
• Family Court restraining orders.
• Foreign information.
• A Vulnerable Sector (VS) Query to ascertain if the applicant has been convicted of and granted a record suspension for any of the sexual offences that are listed in the schedule to the Criminal Record Act (CRA).
• Any reference to incidents involving mental health .
• Diversions will not be released as police and no reference to the occurrence is permitted (CC S. 717.4).
• Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) information beyond applicable disclosure period.
• Any reference to contagious diseases.
• Dispositions including, but not limited to, Withdrawn, Dismissed, and cases of Not Criminally Responsible by Reason of Mental Disorder.

Please Note

Volunteers may possess a letter from the volunteer organization on official company letterhead stating that they are seeking a record check for the purposes of volunteering at the time of submission. This letter will waive a portion of the fee.

The Ottawa Police do not offer Fingerprinting Services for this type of record check.

If you require a list of your convictions, you will be advised to attend a private fingerprinting agency.

Level 3 Vulnerable Sector Check

The Vulnerable Sector Check is restricted to applicants seeking employment and/or volunteering in a position of authority or trust relative to vulnerable persons in Canada only.

It is a collection of offence information, including convictions, outstanding warrants, charges, judicial orders and sexual offence convictions for which the individual has received a record suspension where authorized by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Non-conviction information shall be released only when it meets the Exceptional Disclosure Assessment.

Information included in the Criminal Record check

• Criminal convictions from CPIC and/or local databases.
• Summary convictions, for five years, when identified.
• Findings of Guilt under the Youth Criminal Justice Act within the applicable disclosure period.
• Outstanding entries, such as charges and warrants, judicial orders, Peace Bonds, Probation and Prohibition Orders. As per CPIC policy, information obtained from the Investigative Databank must be confirmed and authorized for release by the contributing agency.
• Absolute and conditional discharges for 1 or 3 years respectively.
• In very exceptional cases, where it meets the Exceptional Disclosure Assessment, non-conviction dispositions including, but not limited to, Withdrawn and Dismissed.
• Not Criminally Responsible by Reason of Mental Disorder.
• All record suspensions as authorized for release by the Minister of Public Safety.

Information not included in the Criminal Record Check

• Convictions under provincial statutes.
• Local police .
• Ministry of Transportation information (PARIS).
• Special Interest Police (SIP) category of CPIC.
• Family Court Restraining Orders.
• Foreign information.
• Any reference to incidents involving mental health .
• Diversions will not be released as police and no reference to the occurrence is permitted (CC S. 717.4).
• Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) information beyond the applicable disclosure period.
• Any reference to contagious diseases.

If you live outside of Ottawa, you CANNOT request a records check from the Ottawa Police Service.

What does "Vulnerable Sector" mean?

Please Note

Volunteers may possess a letter from the volunteer organization on official company letterhead stating that you are seeking a Record Check for the purposes of volunteering at the time of submission.

The Ottawa Police will only fingerprint if the individual receives notification from our Service that the extra fingerprint step is required to confirm identity.

Applicants under 18 do not qualify for the Vulnerable Sector Check as the Youth Criminal Justice Act does not permit youth to apply for a Record Suspension. Applicants under 18 may apply for the Criminal Record Check or the Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CJMC).

Are you unsure about which record check you qualify for?

Please refer to the below chart for our most common employment/volunteer positions.

Daycare Worker/
Resident at Daycare Location

Foster Parents/Resident in Foster or Kinship Home

Host Family/Boarding Parent