At Ziv Law Group, we help you get your life back on track by guiding you through the pardon and record suspension application process.
A criminal record can create barriers long after you have completed your sentence. It can affect employment opportunities, education and volunteering, and leave you feeling that your past continues to stand in the way of your future. A pardon or record suspension can help reduce those barriers and the stigma associated with a criminal record, giving you greater confidence as you move forward.
Rehabilitation is one of the sentencing objectives expressly recognized in Canada’s Criminal Code. Pardons and record suspensions help advance that objective by supporting people who have completed their sentences in rebuilding their lives and reintegrating into society.
Serving your sentence is part of repaying your debt to society. Once you have done that, you deserve the opportunity to move forward. Finding out whether you qualify for a pardon or record suspension is a practical next step.
Research suggests that relatively few eligible people obtain criminal record relief, despite its potential benefits. One study of an American expungement program found that just 6.5% of eligible people obtained relief within five years of becoming eligible.
Research has also linked criminal record relief to improved employment and higher earnings. In that study, recipients’ wages rose by more than 22% relative to their previous earnings trajectory within one year. Recipients also had very low subsequent reoffending rates.
We can assess your eligibility, explain the requirements that apply to your circumstances, and guide you through preparing and submitting your application.
Contact Ziv Law Group at (587) 415-5786 to find out whether you are eligible for a pardon or record suspension and how to take the next steps.
