Record Check

Do not apply for more than one type of record check per job or volunteer opportunity.

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has a no refund policy when multiple online record check applications are submitted for the same position.

Any organization requesting more than one type of record check for a single position should confirm with Sault Police. Legislation which governs record checks in Ontario has changed, Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015. Only a law enforcement agency can provide a Vulnerable Sector record check.

Police record checks are required for a variety of reasons including employment, adoption, international travel, volunteer work, citizenship, name change, student placement or to obtain a record suspension, formerly pardon. If you are uncertain about the type of record check you require, please contact Sault Police.

There are three (3) different types of record checks to choose from – please read carefully below for more detail and choose only ONE (1) record type while completing your online application. For example, it is not necessary to complete and pay for a level one (1), basic, and a level three (3), Vulnerable Sector, record check for the same employer, student placement or volunteer organization. If in doubt about the type of record check you need, please call 705-949-6300 ext. 326.

Once completed, you will receive an email notification to download your results. If you are experiencing an issue with our online process please send an email to saultstemarie@policesolutions.ca.

Normal Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (by appointment only)
(Closed on Statutory Holidays)

How do I apply?

Online Record Check

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is pleased to offer online records check submissions to members of the public. Please visit our Online Records Check page.

Only apply for one type of record check per same employer, student placement, or volunteer organization. Duplicate applications will not be refunded. Once the search is completed, you will receive an email notification to download your results.

Appointments to Attend in person

We recognize some applicants may experience a failed authentication notice, especially if the applicant has lived in Canada for a short period of time or have not established a personal credit history. As a result, some may need to attend the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service's building. If this is the case, an APPOINTMENT MUST BE MADE IN ADVANCE. Please know, if you require an in person appointment to complete a records check submission, you will be pre-screened for COVID-19.

Appointments can be made by contacting the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service by calling 705-949-6300 ext. 326.

Our record check form(s) can be completed and submitted online. Fees are payable online at the time you submit your request. You will need to provide two pieces of government issued identification, one of which must include your photo.

Records Check Application Form

Self-Declaration Form (please complete this form if you have an existing criminal record only)

• Please remember you will need two forms of government-issued identification, one of which must include your photo.  See Photo Identification Standards for further acceptable identification.
• Provide any other names (maiden name, legal name change, etc.)
• You must be a resident of Sault Ste. Marie or Prince Township to have your records check completed - proof of residency may be required.
• All record checks will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.  Currently our turn-around-time is approximately three (3) business days.

Please note applications submitted during August-October may take longer to process as this is one of our busiest seasons for record check requests.

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions section at the bottom of this page for more information.

What type of records check do I need and how much will it cost?

As per the Police Records Check Reform Act of Ontario, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service offers three (3) types of police record checks:

• Police Criminal Records Check (PCRC)
• Police Criminal Records and Judicial Matters Check (PCRJMC)
• Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)

Your employer and/or volunteer organization will confirm for you what type of police records check is required.

Police Criminal Records Check (PCRC)

Police Criminal Records Check (PCRC) or the basic criminal record check for employment purposes - cost is $40.00 (includes HST) which is payable at the time of submitting your application.  You must produce government-issued photo identification.  (See Photo Identification Standards for acceptable identification.)

Effective April 1, 2022, volunteers and students seeking a record check for unpaid placement purposes will no longer be required to pay for their record check.

This check is intended for applicants who are involved as a volunteer, employee or in any situation where a basic PCRC is requested (i.e. immigration, general labour, truck driving, warehouse, retail, etc.). This check is NOT intended for applicants who are seeking to volunteer and/or be employed with vulnerable persons.

This search is based on a query of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's National Repository for Criminal Records in Canada. It is based upon photo identification only and, therefore, is not confirmed by fingerprints.  The completed check indicating the results of the criminal record search shall include the corporate seal of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service as proof of authenticity.

If an applicant has a criminal conviction, this check can only be provided by the local Police Service where the applicant resides. If the person lives out of town and has a criminal conviction, again the check must be completed in the city in which they reside.

Police Criminal Records and Judicial Matters Check (PCRJMC - level two)

Police Criminal Records and Judicial Matters Check (PCRJMC - level two) is intended for applicants who are seeking to volunteer or be employed with agencies who require a PCRC (level one) along with a local police involvement and other systems/records where authorized - employment, volunteers, or student placement purposes where the position does not qualify for the vulnerable position screening:

Employment: cost is $40.00 (includes HST).  This search is intended for individuals who will be employed in positions such as car sales, park wardens, Driver Seat (as Designated Driver.), firefighters, etc.

Volunteers and Students (placement purposes only): no charge, effective April 1, 2022.

Police Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC- level three)

Police Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC- level three) is restricted to applicants seeking employment and/or volunteering with vulnerable individuals. It includes student placements.

Employment: cost is $40.00 (includes HST).  This search is intended for individuals who will be employed in vulnerable positions such as: day care centres, nursing, social workers, teaching, etc. This search is required when working with children (persons under 18 years of age), the elderly, sick or infirm.  This is available only to residents of Sault Ste. Marie and Prince Township. The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service does not provide record checks to people living outside of Canada.  (For more information, please refer to our FAQ below.)

Volunteers and students (placement purposes only): cost is $15.00 (includes HST).  This search is also for individuals who will be volunteering in vulnerable positions such as the: Children's Aid Society, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Meals on Wheels, boys and girls clubs, etc. This is required when volunteering with children (persons under 18 years of age), the elderly, sick or infirm. This is available to residents of Sault Ste. Marie and Prince Township.

Volunteers who require fingerprints to confirm their identity as required by the R.C.M.P.:  You must provide AN ACCOMPANYING LETTER from the organization in which you will be volunteering so as to have the administrative fees waived by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and the R.C.M.P., otherwise all fees will be collected.

Students: If you are in Sault Ste. Marie attending school, and you are able to prove a Sault Ste. Marie or Prince Township residency, ie. a bill or lease document, you may have your search done here.

Police Record Checks Reform Act 2015

The Police Record Checks Reform Act 2015, came into force on November 1, 2018 and it establishes clear and consistent rules to govern police record checks in the province to protect public safety and strengthen individual civil liberties by removing unnecessary barriers to employment, education and volunteer opportunities. It prevents the disclosure of unnecessary information and standardizes the process by clearly defining three types of police record checks.

Please review all of the information below.  There is now a new record check form to complete which includes all three (3) types of record checks and a separate self declaration form of an existing criminal record.

Additionally, there are documents below to assist with the new requirements for these checks.

• Public Education Document
• PRCRA - Fact Sheet - Individuals
• PRCRA - Fact Sheet - Requestors
• Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services - Police Record Checks in Ontario

Most organizations are not legally obligated to request police record checks when screening individuals.  If a record check is necessary for a position, it should only be done as the last step in the hiring process – after the standard screening tools have identified an individual as a suitable candidate for an employment or volunteer opportunity.

What other screening tools can an organization use?

• Resumé
• Personal reference checks
• Interviews
• Orientation sessions
• Job shadowing
• Follow up reviews
• Feedback from clients
• Other assessments as appropriate (e.g., some professions, such as policing and aviation, require medical examinations to assess physical and mental health).

Police Records Check for Employment or Volunteer Opportunities: The employer or volunteer agency plays an integral role in the initial stages of the hiring process and the records check should only be one piece of their recruiting process. Effective April 1, 2022, there will be no charge for volunteer PCRC and PCRJMC.

For further information on selecting employees or volunteers, please refer to the 10 Step Guideline and Screening Handbook at Volunteer Canada.

To reduce the risk of child sexual abuse and create safer environments for the children in your care, please go to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection to view and complete their free training.

By performing a Police Records Check, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is in no way making a recommendation on the suitability of the applicant for the position nor should any agency consider the existence of information to mean a compulsory disqualification of the individual.  It is important to note that information contained within a Police Records Check is based upon information provided by the applicant and the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service cannot guarantee it will identify all information pertaining to the individual.

Youth applicants or volunteers under the age of 18: As of November 1, 2018, community organizations, charities and sport groups will no longer be 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 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. This also includes organizations that may receive government funding but are not a government department.

This communication is intended to educate non-government organizations about changes to record checks pertaining to youth under the age of 18 as a result of the Police Record Checks Reform Act. Non-government agencies will now have to proceed with alternative application steps such as interviews and references for youths and not rely on a police records check as they may have in the past.

Fingerprints

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service currently provides fingerprint services for PVSC applicants who have received notification from our Service the extra fingerprint step is required. Please review our website for additional information on costs. To book an appointment please contact us at 705-949-6300 ext. 326.

If fingerprints are required: Cost is an additional $30.00 (includes HST) to the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service AND a $25.00 fee payable to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.