Police Information Checks
**For assistance please contact Police Information Check at cps-picunit@calgarypolice.ca or at 403-428-2052
For more information click the below links:
Please Note: Once an applicant has submitted a request for a Police Information Check, there will be no refund issued. The onus is on the applicant to ensure they require a Police Information Check for their intended purpose and have the correct information. If you have any questions please contact our main office first before making application.
Police Information Checks are more than a Canadian criminal record check. Also known as a Police Information Check (PIC), information is searched from three databases and the results will be provided on a Calgary Police Service certificate letter. Disclosure will include Canada-wide Criminal Record History, Vulnerable Sector Search (if required) and Police History; this includes Local Police Information and Alberta Provincial court records.
The Calgary Police Service processes Police Information Checks for employment, volunteer opportunities and other relevant purposes, as well; provides Police Record Check information for persons applying for a record suspension (formerly a Pardon).
Are you security personnel, a locksmith or a private investigator?
The Government of Alberta no longer requires fingerprints or signed affidavits for security guards, locksmith and private investigator applications, according to the proclamation of the Security Services and Investigators Act on June 1, 2010.
If you have any questions about licensing processes under this new legislation please contact Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security's Licensing Department toll-free at 1-877-462-0791.
The Calgary Police Service will continue to perform employment Police Information Checks for these applications.
Obtaining a Police information check
Visit a Calgary Police Service location and remember to bring:
Two valid pieces of government issued identification ( Expired Identification cannot be accepted)
Photo identification can be one of the following:
- Driver’s Licence (Interim operator's licence NOT valid ID)
- Alberta Photo Identification Card (Issued through Registry Agent Offices)
- Passport
- Permanent Residence Card (ONLY instance where ID with an expired date is acceptable)
- Firearms License
- Refugee Protection Claimant Document - Certified
- Nexus Card
- Secure Certificate of Indian Status Card (Federally issued)
- Aviation Document Booklet
For Minors between the ages of 12 to 15 who do not have any of the above photo identification
- Student Photo ID (Only for applicants between the ages of 12 and 15)
Non-photo identification can be one of the following:
- Provincial Healthcare Card
- Birth Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- Immigration Papers (Includes any VALID document issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada with proper applicant discriptor information)
- Citizenship Card
- Citizenship Certificate
- Payment for the Police Information Check.
For status of your police check please refer to the following website for current processing date. Once application is processed please allow time for mail delivery, to receive, unless further follow-up is required of you to which you will be notified. You may also refer to this website to learn more about our online Police Information check process. The Police Information Check will not disclose to a third party – any specific information will be disclosed to the applicant only.
If you have previously resided in Calgary and now reside elsewhere in Alberta, in another Province or Out of Country and require a Calgary Police Service Police Information Check, please see Police information checks for people outside Calgary.
Did you receive an attend letter?
If you receive an "attend" letter after submitting your application, follow the instructions and click here to make an appointment at Westwinds location only.
Individuals are requested to "follow-up" and attend the Police Information Check for a variety of reasons. Follow-up requests may be related to:
- submission of fingerprints to confirm or eliminate a criminal record associated to an applicants information
- submission of fingerprints for the Vulnerable Sector search to confirm or eliminate a pardon associated to applicants’ information. Please see the RCMP website for more information: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/index-eng.htm#rc
- to deal with outstanding warrant(s) on the National Police Computer System
- disclosure of police related relevant occurrence report(s)
- Failure to submit a self-declaration form if you have existing criminal conviction(s)
NOTE: The above information cannot be discussed over the phone; however the Police Information Check Unit will disclose this follow-up request when you attend.
Important Vulnerable Sector Search Criteria: After May 31, 2017, applicants who have made application for a Police Information Check and fingerprinted for a Vulnerable Sector Search by the Calgary Police Service with a negative result to a pardoned sex offender file; will not be required to re-submit fingerprints for 4 years. (Note: fingerprints will not be retained during this 4 year period)
The negative result will stay on file for 4 years should an applicant require another Police Information Check with the Vulnerable Sector Search. After 4 years from date of application, an applicant will be required to re-attend for an update on the Vulnerable Sector Search. If results are still negative to a pardoned sex offender file; fingerprints will not be required for an additional 4 years.
Note: If an applicant’s criminal history has changed or it has been longer than 4 years since the last date of an applicant’s Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check; applicants will be required to attend for Vulnerable Sector fingerprinting.
What databases are searched?
The Calgary Police Service uses three search mechanisms:
- S.E.N.T.R.Y. - Local records of the Applicant's involvement with Calgary Police Service (Police Record Management System)
- J.O.I.N. - The Alberta court system (Justice Online Information Network)
- C.P.I.C. - The Canadian Police Information Centre system and R.C.M.P. National repository in Ottawa.
This Police information check only provides information found at the time of the check, on the above listed systems. The Calgary Police Service does not guarantee completeness of the information, as we are limited to information available on these systems.
This check does not include information found in any other jurisdiction's local police information system; nor does it include court information from any other provinces, except convictions registered on the National Repository for Canada and information entered onto the Canadian Police Information Centre System.
What disclosures are included?
- Criminal Records - Adult and Youth (includes indictable, dual procedure and summary
conviction offences) - Pending and outstanding charges
- Outstanding warrants for arrest Canada-wide
- Police Files/Information Reports: Relevant occurrences – this may include any interactions an individual has had with police as being disclosed, including mental health occurrences, if they are deemed to be relevant. A relevant occurrence may not have resulted in charges being laid, but will be disclosed if relevant or there is a potential risk to public safety
- Records of not criminally responsible by reasons of Mental Disorder pursuant to s.16(1) cc (disclosed if relevant)
- Judicial Orders while in effect: probations, prohibitions, peace bonds and recognizance conditions
- Vulnerable Sector Records (pardoned sex offender)
- Absolute Discharge for one year period
- Stay of Proceedings for one year period
- Conditional Discharge for three year period
- Alternative Measures for one year period
- Alberta Provincial Police Information Check Disclosure Procedures