PARDON DOES NOT ERASE CONVICTION Help’s at hand HELP'S AT Hand, a weekly feature by the North Shore infor- mation and Volunteer Centre, ad- dresses such topics as government policies and programs, benefits, consumer and legal rights, taxation and public services. Answers published in this col- umn are intended only as a general guide and should not be applied to specific individual cases without further consultation. wen Question: { am in my early 40s, well established in the community, with a lovely wife and family and doing well at my job. Everything seems perfect for me, but the other day something came up at work that made me stop and think. The personnel department men- tioned that it was checking the police record of a prospective new employee. I have been with the company since it vas just starting out and I know that they didn’t check my police record when I joined, but I'm afraid with this new policy they might check now. You see, when I was a teenager 1 was convicted of breaking into a corner store and stealing a carton of cigarettes. I diéa't zo to prison, but I do have a record. I want to know if there is any way | can cher my aame. I couldn't stand the shame if my re- cord was publicly known now. Answer: The best way to deal with this situation is to ask for a par- don. A pardon is a formal attempt to remove the stigma associated with a conviction and is intended to help people who were once con- victed of a criminal offence, have served their sentence and have gone on to show themselves to be responsible citizens. The pardon, however, does not erase the conviction. You should write or call the Clemency and Pardons Division, National Parole Board, 340 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario, KIA ORI, tele- phone (613) 995-1308 extension 156 and ask them to send you a pardon application kit. The kit you will receive will con- tain an application form, instruc- tions on how to apply and a list of the documents, such as your crim- inal record and sometimes court documents, that you must send with your application. The board must have all the documents be- fore it can start an investigation. There is no charge for a pardon, but if you need to get a copy of the certificate of conviction or other court papers you may have to pay a small fee. After you send in your applica- tion and all necessary information, the board asks the RCMP to in- vestigate. The investigators may approach people you list as refer- ences on your application form, your employer (unless you ask otherwise), former employers and the local police. Those contacted are not usually told of the reason for the investigation. The board will study the results of the investigation and will decide whether to recommend the ap- proval of a pardon to the Solicitor General. You will receive a letter telling you of their decision. Once a pardon is granted any federal agency or department that has records of convictions must keep the records of pardoned con- victions separate and may not disclose them without the specific permission of the Soticitor General of Canada. This applies only to records kept at the federal level. However, mary of the provin- cial and municipal flaw enforee- ment agencics cooperate by refus- ing to disclose their records once notified that a pardon has been granted. A pardon does not guar- antee entry or visa privileges in another country. ore The North Shore Information 41 - Sunday, February 11, 1990 - North Shore News "Wine inspires us and fires us with courage, love ANA JOY..." 4,63, me seqgas0pere wo 4 Find your inspiration at “ bes North America's preatest wine event! The [2th : . Sane, “gs Annual Vancouver iz VA Playhouse [atecaational eT pa Wine Festival o ay March 7th to lith yeaa nae at the Vancouver Trade and Convention of Centre + Sample over 340 wines from t) + Once again - your tasting ticket countries. includes same day admission to and Volunteer Centre, a United Way agency, is located at 1060 Roosevelt Cres., North Vancouver, B.C. V7P IM3, telephone 985- 7138. This column is prepared with financial assistance from the Notary Foundation. ° Meet the people who make the VIVA ‘90 being held adjacent to wines. the Wine Festival. * Buy your favourites at the on-site $35 Admission liquor store, LAST YEAR SOLD QUT - ORDER NOW! Far vour Wine Festival rickets call THE VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE 873-33 r TICKETMASTER 280-4444 Pach VIOLO Game SEbTEM t The North Shore News is pleased to announce Ryan La Rocque, David Long and Ryan Hall are the winners of NINTENDO® GAMEBOYS. Our carriers are winners! The North Shore News carrier team deserves to be recognized for their continuing efforts. The readers and the News would like to say thank you for a job well done! STRIBUTION 986-1337 THE VOICE OF NGHTH AND WEST VANCOUVER SUNDAY + WEONESDAY - FRIDAY