Tracing the lifecycle of Canadian criminal records. A critical examination in relation to public policy and user access and comprehension
| Date | 19 July 2013 |
| Pages | 136-148 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/RMJ-01-2013-0001 |
| Published date | 19 July 2013 |
| Author | Lauren Kilgour |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
Tracing the lifecycle of Canadian
criminal records
A critical examination in relation to public
policy and user access and comprehension
Lauren Kilgour
Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it explains the current records management
practices for Canadian criminal records. Second, it details the larger social and cultural implications of
those practices, toward considering the role records management plays in long-term sustainable
offender rehabilitation outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on a thorough literature review, which
considered research on the history of Canadian criminal record management; current records
management procedures for Canadian criminal records; and current Canadian social and cultural
understandings of offenders, criminal records, and the relationship between criminal record
management and public policy.
Findings – This paper finds that Canadian records management procedures for criminal records can
have grave impacts on offenders’ lives. Specifically, this paper explores how records management
practices are shaped by the social norms and values embedded in public policy mandates, which
ultimately appear to disrupt, rather than support, offenders’ rehabilitation.
Research limitations/implications – This paper’s research is limited by its current approach.
Consequently, it encourages researchers to further develop its findings in the future, both domestic to
Canada and internationally.
Practical implications – This paper includes implications that advocate for increased awareness
about how public policy dictated records management procedures can limit offenders’ ability to
reintegrate into society.
Social implications – This paper addresses the grave social consequences and burdens offenders
face when they are unable to seal their previous criminal record.
Originality/value – This paper addresses the need to study how offenders’ rehabilitation is affected
by the policy dictating the management of their criminal record.
Keywords Recordsmanagement, Canada,Criminals, Public policy,Rehabilitation, Classification,Laws,
Retention, Politics
Paper type Viewpoint
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0956-5698.htm
This article represents a facet of the author’s larger research agenda, and has deeply benefitted
from varied comments, questions and conversations at different moments in its development. It
owes particular thanks to the ongoing support and encouragement offered by Dr Fiorella
Foscarini, 2012; the critical and provocative feedback offered for an earlier version of this article
at the University of Toronto’s 2013 Faculty of Information graduate student conference; and the
thoughtful suggestions and critique provided by the two anonymous reviewers and the editors at
the Records Management Journal.
RMJ
23,2
136
Received 27 January 2013
Revised 20 May 2013
Accepted 13 June 2013
Records Management Journal
Vol. 23 No. 2, 2013
pp. 136-148
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0956-5698
DOI 10.1108/RMJ-01-2013-0001
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