Criminal Record Checks

In British Columbia, vulnerable sector criminal record checks (CRC) must be completed via the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP) for anyone working with and/or left alone with children or vulnerable adults, including contractors and volunteers (governed by the Criminal Records Review Act). The CRRP is managed by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG).

Individuals Recieving Community Living BC (CLBC) Funding

For those with Community Living BC (CLBC) funding, you can learn more about Criminal Record Checks, including policy and service provider expectations, on CLBC’s website.

How to Set Up an Account

Set Up Account with the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP)

Before you can process criminal record checks for staff, you must set up your account with the CRRP.

Criminal Record Checks for employees and contractors of Microboards, Person Centred Societies (PCSs), and Individualized Funding Agents must be done online via your registered employer account with the CRRP and not through your local police department.

How to Set Up an Account

Learn how to set up an account by following the steps on the How to Set Up an Account with the CRRP factsheet (pdf).

How to Submit Criminal Record Checks

After you are set up as an organization in the CRRP system, you will then be able to start processing Criminal Record Checks for your staff (the applicant).

When hiring staff or volunteers it is your responsibility to communicate to each person applying for the position (employee, home share provider, respite contractor, volunteer) that they must have a criminal record check with vulnerable sector screening for:

Relevant offences, if working with children, or
Relevant and specified offences if working with vulnerable adults as outlined in the CRRA (The Criminal Record Review Act).

Every worker and volunteer must re-do their criminal record check at least once every five years. As the one overseeing the staff or volunteers, you are responsible for tracking when each person is due for a five-year re-check and having each person re-checked by the 5-year anniversary date.

Online Application

Applicants will still submit their criminal record checks online using the link and access code that was sent to you by the CRRP when you created your account.

Access Code

Once you receive confirmation of your account registration, a specific access code will be issued to you as the organization. This code enables access to the
online platform where the applicant will complete their criminal record check
request.

The access code never expires and also allows for the sharing of
criminal record check results when applicable. This code must not be posted publicly. If you would like to change your code, you can contact the CRRP.

Note: If your staff has an existing criminal record check (CRC), you may be able to “share” their existing check. To share CRCs with other agencies, visit the CRRP website.

Required Information

To apply, applicants will need to verify their identity and will require the following information:

Organization’s access code
BC Services Card
If no BC Services Card, then two accepted pieces of ID

Where to Apply

Applicants can apply for a Criminal Record Check through their website.

Payment

Your CRRP account will be set up either for you or for your applicants to pay the
fee for criminal record checks, depending which option you chose when creating your account.

Whoever is responsible for payment for the CRC will receive an email from the CRRP within 24 hours with a link to pay for the criminal record check before it can be processed.

The current accepted method of payment is Visa/MasterCard Debit.

Confirmation

Once the criminal record check has been submitted and paid for, it will be processed by the CRRP, and the results will be emailed to you.

You must not share the results with applicants.

Manual Application

If an applicant is unable to access a computer or mobile device and cannot submit their application online, a manual option is available.

This process is not automated, so it will result in longer wait times than using the online options for processing.

Steps to apply:

The authorized contact will need to request a manual consent form from the CRRP.
The CRRP will provide a one-time use consent form.
The authorized contact provides the form to the applicant to complete and sign.
Once signed, the authorized contact will verify the applicant’s ID to confirm their identity and ensure that the information provided on the consent form is accurate.
The authorized contact will send the form to the CRRP for manual data entry.

Results

Once you receive the criminal record check for your applicant, there are a few possible results:

Clearance Issued

Clearance Issued: If nothing is found, a clearance letter is sent to tell you that the person (the applicant) is cleared to work. You do not share this letter with the applicant.

Something Relevant Found

Something relevant is found: If something relevant is found, you will receive a letter stating there will be an adjudication process. An adjudicator will examine the facts and decide if the applicant can work with children or vulnerable adults. The applicant will be sent a letter as well, and is given a chance to provide more information to the adjudicator.

The applicant may need to provide fingerprints to ensure the record that was found is correct.

Adjudication Results

Adjudication Results: You will be informed of the Adjudicator’s decision. You must ensure that, if there is a determination of risk, the person must NOT WORK WITH OR HAVE UNSUPERVISED ACCESS TO CHILDREN OR VULNERABLE ADULTS.