Pardons can be completed by individuals without the assistance of a lawyer or any other agency.

Pardon Application Booklets, Revised Version 2005 may be picked up at any of the Chatham-Kent Police Service Centers. Please refer to Records Management Unit main page for addresses. The booklet may also be downloaded from the National Parole Board website at http://www.npb-cnlc.gc.ca/.

Fingerprinting for obtaining a copy of record may be taken at Headquarters at 25 Third Street in Chatham, Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. Normally your fingerprints can be done shortly after you arrive, however, due to unforeseen circumstances effecting workload in the Unit you may have a longer wait, or may be asked to return at a later date. There is a fee of $25.00 and two pieces of valid government issued identification must be presented. One piece must have a photo.

When your fingerprints are received back from the R.C.M.P. the Local Police Records Check in the Pardon Application Booklet must be taken to every police agency where the applicant has lived in the past 5 years. In Chatham-Kent this form must be brought to headquarters between their hours of operation with two pieces of valid government issued identification. Our fee is $25.00 for this service.

If the applicant no longer lives in the Chatham-Kent area and they cannot attend one of the above locations they may mail the Local Police Records Check to the Chatham-Kent Police Service, Box 366 Chatham, Ontario N7M 5K5, attention Records. A clear photocopy of two pieces of valid government issued identification (1with photo) must accompany the form. The photocopy of the identification must be notarized. The fee may be paid with certified cheque or a postal or money order.

If it has been three (3) years (summary offence) or five (5) years (indictable offence), since you completed your last sentence, you may apply to the National Parole Board for a pardon. Everything you’ll need to know is included in a booklet put out by the National Parole Board, which is available, free of charge from the Records office of any police agency. Although there are private companies that offer assistance in obtaining a pardon for you (for a fee), the pardon application process is reasonably uncomplicated and designed to be easy enough for anyone to do himself or herself.

For more information or assistance with obtaining a Pardon you may call 1-800-874-2652.