What Employers See vs What You See on Your Criminal Record

The Truth About Background Check Visibility

Many Canadians worry that employers see more than they do when running a background check. The good news is that standard criminal record checks show the same information to employers as they would show to you.

You and Employers See the Same Thing

When an employer runs a standard criminal record check through an accredited provider, they receive the same results you would receive if you ran a check on yourself. There is no hidden "employer-only" version with additional information.

What Employers WILL See

Criminal Convictions

All convictions for Criminal Code offences appear on a standard criminal record check:

What Appears:

• The specific offence(s) you were convicted of
• The date of conviction
• The court location
• The sentence imposed

Types of Convictions Shown:

• Summary offences (less serious crimes)
• Indictable offences (more serious crimes)
• Hybrid offences (can be prosecuted as either)

Outstanding Charges

Any criminal charges currently before the courts will appear, even if you have not yet been convicted or acquitted.

Active Warrants

If there is an active warrant for your arrest, this will appear on your background check.

Peace Bonds and Prohibition Orders

Court-ordered conditions such as peace bonds or weapons prohibitions may appear.

What Employers Will NOT See

Pardoned Offences (Record Suspensions)

If you have received a record suspension, that conviction is removed from the standard CPIC database and will not appear on most background checks.

Exception: On vulnerable sector checks required for work with children and vulnerable populations, pardoned sexual offences may still be flagged.

Acquittals

If you were charged but found not guilty, this does not appear on your record. The court system presumes innocence, and an acquittal means you are not considered to have committed the offence.

Withdrawn, Stayed, or Dismissed Charges

Charges that did not proceed to conviction do not appear. This includes:

• Charges withdrawn by the Crown
• Charges stayed (halted) before trial
• Charges dismissed by a judge
• Cases where charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement

Conditional and Absolute Discharges (After Time Period)

If you received a discharge at sentencing:

• Absolute discharge: Removed after 1 year
• Conditional discharge: Removed after 3 years from completing conditions

After these periods, the discharge does not appear on standard checks.

Youth Records

Records from offences committed as a minor (under 18) are governed by the Youth Criminal Justice Act and have strong privacy protections:

• Youth records are sealed after the access period ends
• Access periods range from 2-5 years depending on the offence
• Once sealed, youth records do not appear on adult background checks

Provincial Offences

Provincial and municipal offences are NOT part of your criminal record:

• Traffic violations
• Parking tickets
• Bylaw infractions
• Provincial regulatory offences

These matters are handled separately from the criminal justice system.

Civil Court Matters

Background checks do not include civil court records such as:

• Lawsuits
• Divorce proceedings
• Custody disputes
• Small claims court matters
• Bankruptcies (appear on credit checks, not criminal checks)

Types of Background Checks and What They Show

Standard Criminal Record Check

The most common type requested by employers.

What It Searches:

• Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database
• National repository of criminal records

What It Shows:

• Criminal convictions
• Outstanding charges
• Warrants

Enhanced Criminal Record Check

A more detailed check that may include additional local police information.

What It May Additionally Show:

• Non-conviction records in some cases
• Police contact information (varies by jurisdiction)
• Information relevant to the position

Vulnerable Sector Check

Required for positions involving children or vulnerable adults.

Additional Information:

• Pardoned sexual offences (flagged for further inquiry)
• May require fingerprint verification

Canadian Background Check

Official check from the RCMP, often required for immigration or international purposes.

What It Includes:

• Fingerprint-based verification
• Certified document suitable for legal purposes

Your Privacy Rights

Consent Required

Employers must obtain your written consent before running a criminal record check. You have the right to:

• Know what type of check is being conducted
• Receive a copy of the results
• Dispute inaccurate information

Human Rights Protections

In most Canadian provinces, employers cannot:

• Discriminate based on pardoned offences
• Consider convictions unrelated to the job duties
• Refuse employment solely based on criminal record without demonstrating relevance

Right to Explanation

If an employer decides not to hire you based on a background check, you have the right to:

• Know that the decision was related to the background check
• Request a copy of the check results
• Explain or provide context for any information found

What Employers Are Actually Looking For

Position-Relevant Information

Responsible employers focus on convictions relevant to the position:

Financial Positions: Fraud, theft, embezzlement

Healthcare: Violence, drug offences, patient abuse

Education: Offences involving children or violence

Security: Theft, fraud, violence

Transportation: Impaired driving, dangerous driving

Recent vs Historical

Many employers give more weight to recent convictions than historical ones. A 15-year-old conviction for a minor offence is viewed differently than a recent conviction.

Pattern vs Isolated Incident

A pattern of similar offences raises more concern than a single isolated incident, particularly if the person has shown rehabilitation.

How to Prepare

Run a Check on Yourself First

The best way to know what an employer will see is to run the same check on yourself. This lets you:

• Identify any surprises before the employer does
• Prepare an explanation if needed
• Verify the information is accurate
• Address any errors proactively

Be Prepared to Discuss

If you have a record, prepare a brief, honest explanation:

• What happened
• What you learned
• How you have changed
• Why it will not affect your job performance

Know Your Rights

Understand the human rights protections in your province. Employers cannot discriminate based on:

• Pardoned offences
• Convictions unrelated to job duties
• Protected characteristics

Document Your Rehabilitation

Gather evidence of rehabilitation such as:

• Completion of counseling or programs
• Volunteer work
• Positive employment references
• Community involvement

Frequently Asked Questions

Can employers see charges that were dropped?

No. Only convictions appear on standard criminal record checks. Withdrawn, stayed, or dismissed charges do not appear.

Can employers see my driving record?

A criminal record check does not include your driving abstract. Driving records must be requested separately. However, Criminal Code driving offences like impaired driving or dangerous driving ARE criminal convictions and will appear.

Do employers see more than I would on a self-check?

No. Standard criminal record checks show the same information regardless of who requests them. There is no special "employer version" with additional details.

Can employers check my social media?

Social media is separate from criminal record checks. Employers may review public social media profiles, but this is not part of a formal background check.

What if my employer finds something inaccurate?

You have the right to dispute inaccurate information. Request a copy of the check, identify the error, and work with the background check provider and police to correct it.

How long do convictions stay on my record?

In Canada, criminal convictions do not automatically expire. They remain on your record until you receive a record suspension. This applies regardless of how minor the offence or how long ago it occurred.

Can employers see what province I was convicted in?

Yes. The check will show the court location where you were convicted, which indicates the province.

Take Control of Your Record

Understanding what employers see on your background check puts you in control. Run a check on yourself, know exactly what appears, and be prepared to address any concerns. In most cases, people find they have less to worry about than they thought.

Remember: employers see the same information you would see on a self-check. No hidden databases, no secret information. The criminal record check system is designed to be transparent.