What crimes cannot be pardoned in Canada?

What crimes cannot be pardoned in Canada?

• What crimes cannot be pardoned in Canada?
• The Canadian government will grant you a Pardon, which is now called a Record Suspension, if you have completed your sentence in full, waited a period of time and have stayed a law-abiding citizen.
• However, there are 3 exceptions where you cannot get a Pardon.

1/  When you have been convicted of more than 3 indictable offences, each resulting in a sentence of jail for two or more years.

• What’s important with this exception is that the convictions need to be indictable offences.
• The Criminal Code of Canada makes a distinction between what is known as indictable offences and summary offences.  
• In simple terms, indictable offences are more serious than summary offences.  
• And if you are not sure whether your convictions were indictable or summary offences, you can find out that information by contacting the court where your case was heard.

2/  If you were convicted of a sexual assault which involved a minor.

• However, there is a scenario where you may be able to get a Record Suspension if you can convince the Parole Board of Canada of 3 things regarding the circumstances of your assault.
• First, you were NOT in a position of trust or authority with the victim.
• Second, you did NOT use or threaten to use any violence, intimidation or coercion on the victim; and
• Third, you were less than five years older than the victim.

3/  If you get a sentence of life or an indeterminate sentence.

• An indeterminate sentence means that your jail term does not have an end date. 
• After 7 years, the Parole Board of Canada will review your indeterminate sentence to determine whether an end date should be defined.  
• If the Parole Board does not define an end date, then your case will be reviewed again in 2 years to assess whether an end date makes sense.