Police Information Checks (PIC)

Police Information Checks for Volunteer Opportunities

Police Information Checks are performed only with the written consent of the applicant for volunteer positions. Before an individual applies for a Police Information Check, the organization should:

Understand the legal rules concerning the collection, use, security and any further disclosure of the information obtained through a Police Information Check, as contained in the Personal Information Protection Act (for business and non-profit organizations) and in the Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act (for public bodies).
Determine whether a Vulnerable Sector Check is required to be included, as this type of Police Information Check is designed to assist the organization in determining the suitability of potential volunteer candidates whose duties will include responsibility for the well-being of persons who, because of their age, disability or other circumstances are at a greater risk than the general population.

This Police Information Check only provides information found at the time of the check. The Lethbridge Police Service does not guarantee completeness of the information, as we are limited to information available. This check does not include information found in any other jurisdiction’s local police information system, nor does it include court information of any other provinces, except convictions registered on the National Repository for Canada and information entered onto the Canadian Police Information Centre System.

The Lethbridge Police Service provides two types of Police Information Checks:

Police Information Check (PIC)
Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (PIC-VS)

Police Information check (PIC)

This check is intended for applicants who are seeking volunteer positions with agencies where the applicant will NOT be in a position of trust or authority relative to vulnerable persons.

Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (PIC VS)

This check is restricted to applicants volunteering in a position of authority or trust relative to vulnerable persons in Canada only. If your certificate is being used outside of Canada, we are unable to process a Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector (VS) search.

If the applicant is being considered to work in a volunteer position where they will be in a position responsible for children or vulnerable individuals they may be required to submit fingerprints to verify whether there is a criminal record including the existence of any sex offences for which they received a Record Suspension contained within the RCMP National Criminal Records Repository.

When applying for a PIC-VS you do not need to apply for a PIC for the same position, as the PIC-VS includes both the PIC and VS.

Please note: Just being in the vicinity of persons does not qualify for a PIC-VS.

Self-Declaration

Self-declaration of a criminal record is a process where the applicant may declare their criminal record of convictions to the Lethbridge Police Service. This may allow the Lethbridge Police Service to assess the accuracy of the applicant’s criminal record information without taking fingerprints and without the delay that a fingerprint comparison may cause.

Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector

The Lethbridge Police Service will complete a Vulnerable Sector Check based on the applicant’s name and date of birth. If no record is found, a completed Police Information check with Vulnerable Sector will be provided to the applicant.

If the Vulnerable Sector Search is inconclusive, a fingerprint-based search will be required. If the RCMP confirms that the applicant has a record suspension for a sex offence, the information will be forwarded to the Minister of Public Safety to authorize disclosure of all or part of the information contained in the file. When the information is authorized for disclosure by the Minister, the criminal record associated with the applicant’s fingerprints will be returned to the Lethbridge Police Service and will include the record suspension sexual offence information. At this point the Lethbridge Police Service will be required to obtain the applicant’s consent in writing for disclosure of the record(s). When the applicant has signed the form giving consent to release the record(s) the Lethbridge Police Service must forward the information to the applicant only.

You may also refer to the Lethbridge Police Service website at https://www.calgary.ca/cps/public-services/police-information-checks.html for further information regarding the Police Information Check process.