I recently did a criminal record check for volunteer work. There are 4 categories they check for:

1. Records of criminal convictions found in the identification data bank attainable through the canadian police information center (CPIC) for which a pardon has not been granted.
My Result: None Indicated

2. Records of criminal convictions attainable through CPIC for which a pardon has not been granted plus records of outstanding criminal charges which the RCMP are aware of or indicated within the investigative data bank or CPIC.
My Result: None Indicated

3. Records of criminal convictions and summary of police information (including records of outstanding criminal charges which the RCMP are aware of or indicated within the investigative data bank of CPIC) not been removed from the identification data bank in accordance with the criminal records act. This will include all charges regardless of disposition.
My Result: None Indicated

4. Police information located on computer systems (e.g. Police Information Retrieval System (PIRS), CPIC, PROS, PRIME, LEIP) and information located through local police indices checks. This will include all information related to non convictions and all charges regardless of disposition
My Result: May or may not exist

My question is do I have a criminal record? I have never been arrested but did have a run in at a grocery store almost 2 years ago but no cops came down and I haven't heard anything about it since.

We are crossing the boarder to the US from Canada in 2 weeks. Would this cause a problem for me or am I OK since there were no charges, no court basically a warning from the store and I heard nothing from the police. Im so confused and am scared to go to the station to inquire about this just in case they are dealing with it now very late after the fact.
Thanks for any advice you can offer me.

It came back NONE INDICATED so you have nothing to worry about. It went through the police computers and nothing was INDICATED. I wouldn't worry about the last category.

When you cross the border you are presenting your passport, right. Okay.

Tick

Yes, I have a passport for the border. I would hate to ruin the entire family vacation on something so stupid I did 2 years ago.

If you are not sure, go to the station and ask. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Tick

Unless you were arrested by the police you don't have a record, and actually unless you were arrested and was convicted you don't have a record that will show up.

I just found it really strange that something showed up at all or is this normal? There is nothing else it could've been. The school district won't let me volunteer until I inquire about it and get back to them. I think I might wait until after our holidays though just in case.

The days leading up to it are making me nervous. I've crossed the border probably 4 times in the last 2 months and they've said nothing. But Ive also read that they don't run record checks to everybody and this was just an information report on my name (like a warning).

No charges were pressed. Its been too long for them to do anything about it now right?

Sorry Im asking so many questions maybe even silly ones but this is really out of character for me to have any record at all. The whole grocery store thing was accidental and the lady was really nice who approached me and gave me the 6 month store ban. Im sure she could tell I was telling the truth and that's why she let me go with just the store ban.

I really appreciate you answering me. I had no idea who to ask about this.

Concerned, Fr. Chuck is not only a christianity expert but is pretty good with the law too, so you should trust his judgment. Just go in to the station and ask, like I said before. I don't think anything we tell you here is going to give you security knowing it is safe. Its okay.

Tick

To help with it, I was a GS 12 with the Justice Dept as a law enforcement manager, worked with a state police agency and even helped with President Carters body guard details. ( after he was retired)

With that I went to law school, was a graduate of the Federal Law Enforcement Academy and a lot more.

The issue here is who is running the background check and what company they are using.

If you get a government report only actual convictions show up.

On reports of any records, most of us have something, I was stopped for investigation before ( mistaken ID) on a drug stop, and we don't even want to talk about that incident in Texas when I tried to visit my kids)

But that is not a criminal record, that is merely a record of investigation and is not reportable unless the place you are applying to asked if you ever did anything criminal you were not arrested for.

And even if you had been arrested and convicted of a minor shop lifting 2 years ago, that would not stop you from gong across the border.

My goodness you guys sure know how to cheer me up and reasure me. I really appreciate it. I was becoming really down because I was worrying too much and I feel like a huge weight is being lifted off my shoulders. I know I was wrong 2 years ago and it was a mistake and I think about it every day.