Pardon

A pardon is a government decision to allow a person to be relieved of some or all of the legal consequences resulting from a criminal conviction. A pardon may be granted before or after conviction, depending on the laws of the jurisdiction. In Canada, individuals can apply for a pardon if they were convicted as an adult of a criminal offense in Canada, or of an offense under a federal act or regulation of Canada. Non-Canadian citizens are not eligible for a Canadian pardon unless they were guilty of a crime in Canada.

About Pardon in brief

Summary Pardon A pardon is a government decision to allow a person to be relieved of some or all of the legal consequences resulting from a criminal conviction. A pardon may be granted before or after conviction, depending on the laws of the jurisdiction. Pardons are sometimes seen as a mechanism for combating corruption, allowing a particular authority to circumvent a flawed judicial process to free someone that is seen as wrongly convicted. In extreme cases, some pardons may be seen as acts of corruption by officials in the form of granting effective immunity as political favors. In Australia, the traditional pardon power is referred to as the royal prerogative of mercy, an executive power that is vested in the Queen and may be exercised by the Governor-General. The Parole Board of Canada is the federal agency responsible for making pardon decisions under the Criminal Records Act. In Canada, individuals can apply for a pardon if they were convicted as an adult of a criminal offense in Canada, or of an offense under a federal act or regulation of Canada. Individuals are considered to have completed all of their sentences if they have: Effective 13 March 2012, following completion of all sentences, individuals must have completed a waiting period. Applicants for a record suspension must be able to show that they have completed their sentences in full and provide proof of payment. Non-Canadian citizens are not eligible for a Canadian pardon unless they were guilty of a crime in Canada. To be eligible for record suspension or a record or record suspension, Individuals must have. completed all their sentences and a waiting. period, as well as the eligibility criteria for the pardons and waiting periods, as of March 2012.

The RCMP removes all information about the conviction for which an individual received the pardon from the Canadian Police Information Centre. If an individual in receipt of a pardon is convicted of a new offence, the information may lead to a reactivation of the criminal record for which the pardon was received in CPIC. The criminal record is not erased, but it is kept separate and apart from other criminal records, and gives law-abiding citizens an opportunity to reintegrate into Canadian society. In addition to the traditional power to exercise mercy, Australia has passed legislation that creates additional avenues to seek a pardon, exoneration, reduced sentence, or conditional release. The pardon system was similarly changed in 2012, when the Parliament of Canada passed the Safe Streets and Communities Act, which changed many of elements regarding the criminal justice system. Before travelling to another country, individualsmust still contact the authorities of the country in question to find out what the requirements are to enter that country. A pardon does not guarantee entry or visa privileges to another countries, and individuals must still contact the authorities in question before travelling to other countries to findout what is required to enter the country they are seeking to visit. In the UK, pardons are granted by the Queen or the Governor General in Canada or the National Council of the Lord Lieutenant of England and Wales. Applications are also made to the National Parole board and can be made by paying a fee of USD 631.