Broader Record Check is Here!

Starting January 1, 2025, Police Record Check units across the province of Ontario offer the Broad Record Check (BRC) as a new category of police record check. The BRC will be run for certain service roles in order to enhance the safety and well being of child and youth.

 

Detailed in Ontario Regulation 308/24, 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:

 

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    1. Criminal Convictions: All criminal offences for which the individual has been convicted, except those pardoned under the Criminal Records Act (Canada).
    2. Pardoned Convictions: Any pardoned conviction where disclosure is authorized under the Criminal Records Act (Canada).
    3. Discharges: Criminal offences resulting in absolute or conditional discharges, unless the record is required to be purged under the Criminal Records Act (Canada).
    4. Youth Offences: Findings of guilt under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada) during the applicable access period.
    5. Outstanding Orders and Charges: Current judicial orders, restraining orders, and outstanding criminal charges.
    6. Non-Conviction Information: Charges that resulted in findings such as not criminally responsible due to mental disorder, stays of proceedings, dismissals, or withdrawals.
    7. 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.
    8. Mental Health Act Interactions: Contacts related to actions taken under the Mental Health Act due to determinations of potential harm or impairment.

 

 

Agile Records supports Broad Record Check requirements with enhanced workflow and query capabilities that include:

 

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    1. Broadened Scope of Information Disclosed: Agile Records provides a broader array of information, including specific non-conviction details and certain police interactions not typically disclosed in the existing checks.
    2. Targeted Child and Youth Application Roles: Agile Records aligns with supporting individuals in roles under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, and the Intercountry Adoption Act, 1998, focusing on positions involving direct interaction with children and youth.
    3. Exemptions from PRCRA: While the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015, S.O. 2015, c. 30 standardizes police record checks across Ontario, Agile Records can help apply specific exemptions tailored to the child and youth services sector, as outlined in Ontario Regulation 347/18.

 

Key Benefits of Agile Records

 

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    • Faster Turnaround Times: Results are often available within minutes, reducing delays for employers, educators, and community groups.
    • Improved Privacy and Security: Sensitive data remains under the full control of police services, ensuring it is only accessible to authorized personnel.
    • Enhanced Efficiency for Police Services: By eliminating redundant data entry and manual workflows, police departments can handle more requests with fewer resources.