Fingerprinting

Sometimes we will need your fingerprints and a photograph as part of your record check. There are a number of reasons why we must do this.

To be fingerprinted, you will need to show us one piece of government issued photo identification such as a driver's licence or a passport and the fingerprint notification letter that you received.

When you provide fingerprints for a record check, they are only used to complete your record check request and cannot be used for anything else. They are not added to the fingerprints we take from people that have been charged with a criminal offence. That is the reason that we must ask you for your fingerprints for each record check.

When will you take my fingerprints?

Request for Civil fingerprints

Sometimes you are required to obtain fingerprints for immigration, Canadian citizenship, record suspension etc. These fingerprints can be obtained by our police service if you reside in Woodstock.

Adoption

The process used for a background check for adoption requires that we take your fingerprints. The RCMP website can provide you with more information about adoption.

Match to a Criminal Record

Your name and date of birth match to an existing criminal record and we must fingerprint you to see if the criminal record belongs to you or someone else.

Your criminal record does not match what you declared

If you have a criminal record, you must declare your criminal record. If you do not tell us about your criminal record, or do not tell us everything, we must fingerprint you to complete the record check.

The following does not need to be declared:

A conviction where you received a pardon or a record suspension
A conviction under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA)
An absolute or conditional discharge
A charge that did not result in a conviction
A provincial or municipal charge (e.g. a ticket)
Charges dealt with outside of Canada

If you do not accurately tell us about your criminal record, we must fingerprint you to complete your record check.

Inconclusive vulnerable sector search

The vulnerable sector search is a check to see if your name, date of birth and gender or your gender and date of birth match to a suspended (pardoned) criminal record. If there is a match we must fingerprint you to see if the record belongs to you or to someone else. We must do this even if you have never been convicted of a criminal offence.

Hours of operation

Fingerprints are offered Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm. Please call our Records Unit to ensure fingerprint services are available on the day you wish to attend.

Please e-mail the Records Unit with any questions.