Security Screening Process

Who conducts a criminal record check?

Ministry of Justice Personnel Security Screening Office staff conduct the criminal record check, request any required information from the hiring manager, and notify the hiring manager if the applicant is eligible or not eligible to be hired. All checks must be completed by this office.

Can an applicant take the criminal record check consent form to their local police station and then take the results to the hiring manager?

No. Information from a criminal record check must come from the Personnel Security Screening Office of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General directly to the hiring manager. Centralizing the administration of criminal record checks makes the process less expensive, faster, more reliable, more secure, and fully protects the privacy of the applicants' personal information.  

Who pays for a security screening check? 

The BC Public Service Agency will recover criminal record check costs corporately from ministries. The Personnel Security Screening Office won't invoice individual hiring managers for each check, and hiring managers don't have to provide account coding on each consent form. Fees for enhanced security screening are negotiated separately.

Will there be a central screening database created and maintained?

Information on the designation of positions and the successful completion of security screening will be stored and maintained in PeopleSoft. However, no information about a criminal record check is stored in the system.

Does a Position Screening Designation form need to be completed for all positions? 

Yes. When the hiring manager initiates a recruitment action for a new position, a Position Screening Designation form must be completed and approved if a form hasn't already been completed and submitted to the BCPSA. The hiring manager can contact AskMyHR (IDIR restricted) for assistance by submitting a service request using the category My Team or Organization (or) A Hiring Manager > Job Classification > Other Issues & Inquiries.

How's a criminal record check request submitted to the Personnel Security Screening Office?

The hiring manager takes the completed Consent for Disclosure of Criminal Record Information (PDF, 278KB) and enters the information into the Personnel Security Screening Office Online Service.

Who do I call if I have questions or problems with the Personnel Security Screening Office Online Service? 

If you have questions regarding entering the information into the Personnel Security Screening Office Online Service, or you encounter technical problems with the service, call the PSSO helpline at 1-855-587-0185. 

Once the criminal record check request has been submitted to the Personnel Security Screening Office, how long will it take for the hiring manager to receive the results? 

The target turnaround time to receive the results is approximately 1-7 business days excluding any time required for adjudication.