A criminal record is not a single universal database entry with one deletion rule. Court records, police records, CPIC information, fingerprints, discharges, youth records and record-suspension rules can have different retention and access frameworks.
Primary legislation and official process sources checked October 5, 2026. Criminal law and court procedure can change; verify the current source before relying on a provision or deadline.
Convictions
Adult convictions under federal law can create criminal-record consequences that may appear in authorized record checks.
- summary or indictable conviction
- sentence completion
- record check
Discharges
Absolute and conditional discharges are not convictions, but related information can remain accessible for statutory periods before federal record treatment changes.
- absolute discharge
- conditional discharge
- RCMP records
Police and court records
Local police occurrence information and court files are distinct from a federal record suspension.
- police records
- court record
- fingerprints and photographs
Youth records
Youth records are governed by the Youth Criminal Justice Act and should not be analyzed under the ordinary adult record-suspension framework.
- access periods
- youth court
- statutory restrictions
Record suspensions
For eligible adult convictions, a Parole Board record suspension can set the conviction record aside in the federal system; it does not erase history in every possible record source.
- eligibility
- waiting period
- application
Official and authoritative sources
- Parole Board of Canada — Record Suspensions
- Parole Board of Canada — Record Suspension Eligibility
- Justice Canada — Youth Criminal Justice Act
- Justice Canada — Criminal Code