Is The Government Saying It’s Ok For You To Hire Criminals?

What is being veiled as a new RCMP (C.P.I.C.) draft policy smacks of a “lunge for funds”. Is it yet another… government cash grab?

A release on December 1st announced that Police Record Checks for Vulnerable Sectors & Criminal Record Checks will no longer be made available to you or those of us who acquire the information on your behalf.  A new release as of December 8, 2009 now says all access to criminal records will cease to be provided to 3^rd party agencies authorized to provide to Employers and Volunteer Agencies with vital criminal information.

The Basis:

Without any apparent regard for the threat against vulnerable victims and a safe work environment, the RCMP arbitrarily resurrected an antiquated policy effectively ceasing legal access to Criminal Records and effectively barring Vulnerable Sector Checks by agencies entitled to conduct pre-employment background checks on your behalf.  It is strongly surmised (not ever to be admitted) that the RCMP (being the designated stewards and managers of all fingerprint records in Canada) acted upon what they realized being deprived of a source of revenue presently generated from local Police Services who provide criminal record checks to bone fide agents representing Canadian Employers.

Obscured by the sanctioning of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, this decision was initiated by use of a “surprise audit” on police departments.  The audit was completed in mid November 2009.

The Allegation:

Within 9 days of the audit, the RCMP put out a directive that will effectively drive employers and the public to look toward the RCMP as their primary source (if not the sole supplier) to confirm whether someone has a criminal history.

Local Police Service fees to agencies such as ours ranged somewhat but remained well under the cost average being charged for over the counter police clearances. In speculation, the RCMP will entertain increasing this fee and in addition will add their pre-existing $25.00 fee in order to positively identify claims of a criminal nature through Fingerprint Screening, effectively double ending the cost of service.

The turnaround time to confirm fingerprints is 4 Months… (120 days) from the time your candidate attends to have his/her fingerprints taken and the application is submitted to the RCMP.  Visit http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/time-temp-eng.htm

You  Be The Judge:

Could an organization as unwieldy as the RCMP ever decide on policy in 9 days when they cannot return a response for an “all clear” Criminal Record in less than 5 days or confirm fingerprint in less than 4 months?  Was the blueprint already written, planned, signed and sealed before the Police audit was done? Was it a front for justification to initiate this new directive as a re-hashing of the old directive?

Is There Motive?

Tens of thousands of responsible employers rely on background check agencies annually to exact their rights to perform the screening function. More candidates are background checked now than ever before. The quantity of dollars in revenue received is known to the RCMP who receive a proportional amount of the revenue.  As a result of this, is the RCMP positioning to get it all?

Depriving responsible employers of a venue to determine whether an applicant sports a history of violent behaviour is careless.  To include Vulnerable Sector employers caring for seniors or children borders on criminal negligence and monstrously irresponsible behaviour of those who are complicit in making this decision.

Background Screening agencies provided Employers with results from Local Police Services the same day and in less than 24 hours. 

Employers could decide to hire in but a few days.

Will an employer wait 4 months for fingerprint confirmation before hiring an employee? Never!

The Bottom Line:

• Employers, will now be left vulnerable and on their own for criminal checks. They’ll be deprived of knowing if a candidate poses a threat of violence in light of the new Workplace Violence Bill 168. 
• Applicants will shuffle in line and wait for the RCMP to provide a glacial response to confirm any criminal code offense. 
• Results are set to weaken the framework of careful and diligent hiring and undo the responsible hiring practices employers have exercised for years.

IS IT UNACCEPTABLE?  If you think so, sign the petition at www.petitiononline.com/RCMPDENY/petition.html

Related Articles

• New rules force snags in routine background checks (theprovince.com)
• Sex offender name changes prompt new fingerprint policy (nationalpost.com)
• Graham James-sparked fingerprint screening delays volunteers (canada.com)
• Just Who do you THINK You’re Hiring? Conducting Legal Background Checks (gumshoesgazette.wordpress.com)
• Corporate Inquiry Systems (corporateinquiry.com)