Police Record Checks | Owen Sound Police Service

*** NEW*** - Effective January 1st 2025 - A Broad Record Check is only available to those who may care for or provide a service to a child or youth under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act 2017 (CYFSA) or the Intercountry Adoption Act 1998 (IAA).

Police Service Readiness: Across Ontario, police services are in various stages of preparation for these changes. Owen Sound Police Service (OSPS) is accepting applications with a letter from the corresponding agency requesting the BROAD record check.

OSPS will not be processing this level of check until clearer guidance has been established from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), the Law Enforcement and Records (Managers) Network (LEARN).

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In Ontario, under the Police Record Checks Reform Act, volunteers are eligible to receive free criminal record checks (CRC) and/or criminal record and judicial matters checks (CRJMC) from police services. Volunteers will still be required to pay any fees charged by police services for a Vulnerable Sector Check

The Owen Sound Police Service will complete a Police Record Check on a potential candidate for employment, volunteer duties, or in any situation where a basic Police Criminal Record Check is requested, when:

You reside within the jurisdiction of this police service.
You have signed the required consent forms.
You must provide a Letter from your Employer/ Volunteer Agency

There are three levels of record checks:

Criminal Record Check (CRC)
Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC)
Vulnerable Sector Check (VS) - a formal letter is required

Learn more about the three levels of Background checks here

Online Background check

Online – to start an online check click here Landing (tritoncanada.ca)

[If you are unable to Submit a record check, please verify you have properly answered the questions and that you have an active credit history (regular credit card/banking usage). Please contact crimrecords@owensoundpolice.com if you experience difficulties submitting after reviewing your answers.

In-Person Background check

In-Person – print and complete the following form, and attend the Owen Sound Police Service at 922 2nd Avenue West, Owen Sound, Ontario. Criminal Record Check Form

Acceptable Pieces of Identification

You must provide in two pieces of identification: one piece of photo I.D. and one piece of I.D. proving proof of Owen Sound residency. You must provide original identification documents. No photocopies will be accepted.

Federal, Provincial, or Municipal identification card
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) identification card
Passport
Birth Certificate
Certificate of Indian Status
Driver's licence
FAST/Nexus cards
Canadian Citizenship Card
Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)
Military Family identification (MFID)
Permanent Resident (PR) card
Police Service issued warrant card
Valid student identity card from a Canadian or foreign institute
Ontario Photo Card

Note: Social Insurance Numbers (SIN) are not acceptable for identification purposes. Ontario Health Cards cannot be accepted for identification purposes (Health Cards and Numbers Control Act, 1991 section 2.2(1))

Your proof of address identification must include your name and the City of Owen Sound Address. If your current Owen Sound address is not on your identification, you must bring proof of residency (Utility bills, rental lease agreement, Bank Statements, etc.)

BROAD RECORD CHECK

Broad Record Check

Starting January 1, 2025, Police Record Check units across the province of Ontario will offer the Broad Record Check (BRC) as a new category of police record check, under section 121 of Ontario Regulation 155/18 (General Matters under the Authority of the Lieutenant Governor in Council) made under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017.

The BRC will be facilitated for certain service roles in order to enhance the safety and well being of child and youth:

Residential Licensing
Adoptive Licensing
Primary Caregivers
Foster parents
Adoptive Parents
A person responsible for the custody, care, and control of a child
Child and Parent Resource Institute Positions
Professional Affiliation with a service provider

Detailed in Ontario Regulation 308/24

(https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r24308) it represents a specialized screening tool designed to provide a more extensive background assessment for individuals working closely with children and youth, thereby strengthening safeguards within these vulnerable sectors. This is achieved by including:

Criminal Convictions: All criminal offences for which the individual has been convicted, except those pardoned under the Criminal Records Act (Canada).
Pardoned Convictions: Any pardoned conviction where disclosure is authorized under the Criminal Records Act (Canada).
Discharges: Criminal offences resulting in absolute or conditional discharges, unless the record is required to be purged under the Criminal Records Act (Canada).
Youth Offences: Findings of guilt under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada) during the applicable access period.
Outstanding Orders and Charges: Current judicial orders, restraining orders, and outstanding criminal charges.
Non-Conviction Information: Charges that resulted in findings such as not criminally responsible due to mental disorder, stays of proceedings, dismissals, or withdrawals.
Police Contacts: Documented interactions with police services, excluding instances where disclosure could interfere with law enforcement matters, the individual was unaware of the contact, the individual was a minor at the time, or the information is irrelevant to caregiving suitability.
Mental Health Act Interactions: Contacts related to actions taken under the Mental Health Act due to determinations of potential harm or impairment.

Fees

Criminal Record Check - Employment

Police Criminal Record Check - $50
Police Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check - $50
Police Vulnerable Sector Check - $50

Criminal Record Check - Volunteer * In Person background checks only (Fees applied for Online Services)

Police Criminal Record Check - Free
Police Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check - Free
Police Vulnerable Sector Check - $25