For some volunteer roles, an organization may request a police record check. This means that the role has a high risk, like working with vulnerable people or handling cash. This check will look for any criminal history, and the organization will confirm if that history means you’re not suitable for a role. Toronto Police Service has changed their processes for requesting checks with a new online tool and more payment options. Let’s explore the changes:

Online Account
You can now request all levels of police check with an online account. The account will allow you to track your police check requests. Any checks you request will be stored in your account for 30 days. Follow the steps below to make an account.

What Kind of Check Should I Get?
Your organization will request a specific type of police record check:

• A Criminal Record Check,
• A Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, or
• A Vulnerable Sector Check.

The New Process
1. Go to the Toronto Police Service police check site: https://www.tps.ca/services/police-record-checks/

2. Scroll down to the yellow bar that reads “Register for an Adult Police Record Check Account”. Click the “FILL OUT FORM” button. View an animated GIF to help you find the form.

3. Provide:

1. Your name,
2. The city and province where you live, and 
3. Your contact information.
4. You’ll need to create security questions and answers (for password retrieval) and agree to the user agreement (EULA) and consent to Forrest Green (TPS provider).
5. You will also provide your consent for Toronto Police Service to get your police check information.
6. Click Process my Registration.
7. You’ll get a temporary password on the next screen, which will also be emailed you. Don’t forget to change your password once you login for the first time!
8. You can now login with your account to make the request here: https://www2.policesolutions.ca/checks/services/toronto/login.php

9. Once logged in, a new application will be automatically started – Scroll down and choose the check you want to request: Criminal Record Check, Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, or Vulnerable Sector Check.  You then need to provide some more information: (View an animated GIF to see how this works)

   1. For Criminal Record Checks or Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Checks: List the Position name and Organization you will be volunteering for.
   2. For Vulnerable Sector Checks: list the Position name, and add the Organization Code (also called Agency Code). You will only be able to get this code from the organization where you will be volunteering. The code will include letters and numbers. Next, provide the Vulnerable Clientele Duties and Which vulnerable sectors you will work with.
10. Click Submit and Continue.
11. Proceed through the stages of the application. You’ll need to provide more personal information, identification (ID) information and payment.
    1. For Criminal Record Checks or Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Checks: You will need a letter from your organization to get the check for free. The letter must include your name and the volunteer role. You will be prompted to upload the letter.
    2. For Vulnerable Sector Checks: You will need to pay the new fee of $26.72. You can pay by credit or visa debit to complete the request.
12. After submitting, you can track the progress of your police check through this online portal.
13. You will receive your completed check electronically. You will receive an email and can download the check in the Toronto Police Service portal. It is your responsibility to share the check with your organization. They will also need your date of birth in the format of YYYYMMDD (year, month, day) to view the file of the check.

Big Changes
There are some big changes to the police check request process:

Cost: Vulnerable Sector Checks now cost $26.72. You can pay online or in-person at Toronto Police Headquarters (40 College Street) with a credit card or VISA debit. Criminal Record Checks and Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Checks are still free – don’t forget the volunteer letter from the organization!

Agency Code: When requesting a Vulnerable Sector Check, you’ll need the organization’s Organization Code. Why is the code needed? This code helps Toronto Police Service know which organization is requesting the check. You won’t be able to get a Vulnerable Sector Check without the code.

Are you Under 18?: If you’re under 18, the rules for requesting checks have changed. You will only be able to request a check if you are volunteering with a government or government agency.

Verifying your ID: When applying for a police record check, you will need to provide two forms of identification. You can find the approved identification options on the Toronto Police Service website (https://www.tps.ca/services/police-record-checks/) under “How to apply?”. The online system will verify your ID. If there are any issues, you will receive a notification with instructions. Follow all the steps to make sure everything goes through.

Requesting Checks In-Person: You can request any check in-person at Toronto Police Headquarters at 40 College Street. The Information Access counter is on the main floor. It is open Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except for statutory holidays. You will need your volunteer letter for Criminal Record Checks or Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Checks. For Vulnerable Sector Checks, you will need your Agency/Organization Code, vulnerable duties information, and payment (by debit or credit).

More Questions: If you have more questions please read more here: https://www.tps.ca/services/police-record-checks/. You can also find contact information for Toronto Police Service at this link.

More details will be added to this post as they become available.