CyberSmokeBlog to "The Chief: "You've been cleared you're good to go ..... remove the cuffs boys (and girls)!"

Winnipeg Police Chief Devon Clunis

Good Day Readers:

Yesterday CyberSmokeBlog telephoned The Chief's office to inquire exactly what information is released when a criminal record check is issued. Privacy advocates are becoming increasingly concerned because some jurisdictions are including every thing including the kitchen sink - all contact a citizen has had with a police agency even though there may not have been any illegal activity whatsoever involved. The cost in both time and money to have the situation rectified can, if at all, be quite expensive.

As you can imagine this is causing completely innocent citizens untold grief at a time when the demand for record checks has been increasing exponentially as potential employers, professional associations and volunteer organizations are requiring them as standard operating procedure. Recently, the Toronto Star has published articles detailing some of the horror stories of completely innocent individuals because their police department has very bad, sloppy, tainted data hygiene practices.

A major culprit is the Toronto police but since there's no national policy as to what is in and out of bounds for criminal record check information, undoubtedly there are other jurisdictions with the same problem. But was Winnipeg one of them?. The answer from someone in Chief Clunis' office was only information on date(s) and types of conviction(s) is released.

However, there's another problem. Canadians showing up at the American border and unlawfully being denied access. The issue begins with the big, honkin, mother of all criminal data bases the Canadian Police Information Centre maintained by the RCMP in Ottawa. All police agencies flow data into it and can access the system. Each jurisdiction is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the information it submits - that's not the Mounties responsibility.

Well you guessed it. The United States National Crime Information Centre and its National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System are interfaced with CPIC.

Useful Information for Aspiring Criminals

A reader contacted CSB with this informaitn:

Here is how you can get a copy of your own records http://winnipeg.ca/police/pr/faq.stm You can do it online, but must visit in person with ID to pick it up. Alternatively, you can present yourself in person and then it will be mailed to you. Doing such In person is $5 less (go figure).

http://winnipeg.ca/police/pr/fees_info.stm and
http://winnipeg.ca/police/pr/info_request.stm

What's the matter "Bunky" police got your mug shot and greasy, sticky little fingerprints on record? 

Have we got a solution for you.

Most people who may have been arrested do not realize that if a charge has been stayed, or if they have been acquitted, i.e. non-conviction, they can apply to have fingerprints and photo expunged from records. Otherwise, they are there forever. http://winnipeg.ca/police/pr/forms/Application_to
_Remove.pdf

Finally, lots more information for aspiring criminals:

http://winnipeg.ca/police/pr/info_request.stm
#ncfingerprints

Alright, Chief, you've spent enough time reading this posting. You've been cleared back to work!

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk