What to Expect When Your Peace Bond Expires

What is a peace bond in Ontario?

A peace bond is a court order, made under section 810 of the Criminal Code of Canada, that requires a person to “keep the peace and be of good behaviour” for a set period — usually up to 12 months. It is not a criminal conviction.

In Ontario, a peace bond is typically used in two situations. First, a person can apply for one against someone else if they have reasonable grounds to fear that the other person will cause injury to them, their intimate partner, or their child, damage their property, or share an intimate image of them without consent. Second, the Crown may offer a peace bond to resolve an existing criminal charge — most commonly in cases involving allegations like assault, threats, mischief, or harassment — in exchange for withdrawing the charge.

Two types of peace bonds exist in Canada: a statutory peace bond under section 810 of the Criminal Code, and a common law peace bond, which is based on the court’s inherent authority. A section 810 peace bond can last a maximum of 12 months, while a common law peace bond may last longer. Both are enforceable by police anywhere in Canada, and breaching the conditions is itself a criminal offence under section 811 of the Criminal Code, carrying a maximum penalty of up to four years’ imprisonment.

Entering into a peace bond is not an admission of guilt. It is an acknowledgment that the court has reasonable grounds to require conditions to prevent future harm.

Does a peace bond go on your record?

A peace bond does not result in a criminal conviction and does not create a permanent criminal record. However, while the peace bond is active, it appears in police databases — most notably the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) — and can show up on certain types of background checks.

The distinction matters because there are several types of background checks in Canada, and a peace bond is treated differently in each:

• Standard criminal record check — A peace bond does not appear here, because this check only discloses convictions.
• Criminal record and judicial matters check — An active peace bond is disclosed as an “outstanding entry.”
• Vulnerable sector check — An active peace bond is disclosed, and may continue to appear after expiry depending on the police service’s policy.

In addition, if you were fingerprinted and photographed when the underlying charge was laid, those records remain on file unless you apply to the police service for file destruction after the peace bond expires. Without that request, the fingerprints, photographs, and the original charge can continue to be retrievable in police records.

Does a peace bond show up on a vulnerable sector check?

Yes. An active peace bond shows up on a vulnerable sector check, and depending on the police service that conducts the check, it may continue to appear for some time after the peace bond expires.

A vulnerable sector check is the most comprehensive type of police background check in Canada. It is required for paid or volunteer positions that involve trust or authority over children, the elderly, or other vulnerable people — such as roles in teaching, early childhood education, healthcare, social work, and many volunteer positions.

While a peace bond is in force, it is disclosed as an outstanding entry on the vulnerable sector check. After the peace bond expires, disclosure depends on the policies of the local police service. Some services automatically remove peace bond entries once the order ends; others continue to disclose the entry for a period of time, often around a year. Vulnerable sector checks can also disclose non-conviction information — including withdrawn charges — in narrow circumstances defined by Ontario’s Police Record Checks Reform Act, particularly where the alleged conduct involved a child or vulnerable person, or where there are reasonable grounds to believe the person poses a risk of harm.

If you have a peace bond and need a vulnerable sector check for employment or volunteer work, it is worth contacting the police service performing the check directly to ask about their disclosure policy.

How long does a peace bond stay on your record?

A section 810 peace bond can last a maximum of 12 months, though shorter terms are sometimes ordered. A common law peace bond can last longer, depending on the conditions imposed by the court. The peace bond itself is no longer in force after that period ends.

However, the absence of an active peace bond is not the same as a clean police file. After expiry, the following can still exist:

• The CPIC entry for the original charge or the peace bond may remain in police records.
• Fingerprints, photographs, and the police occurrence report typically remain on file with the police service that processed the matter.
• The peace bond may continue to appear on a vulnerable sector check, depending on local police policy.

To remove this residual information, you must apply to the police service that holds the file and request file destruction. Each police service has its own application process and eligibility criteria, and approval is at their discretion. Once a file destruction is granted, fingerprints, photographs, and related police records are destroyed, and the entry is removed from CPIC.

What happens after a peace bond expires?

When a peace bond expires, the conditions attached to it (such as no-contact orders, weapons prohibitions, or area restrictions) end automatically — provided you complied with them throughout the term. The pledged amount, often $500 to $2,000, is not collected unless you breached a condition while the bond was in force.

After expiry, the practical situation is as follows:

• You no longer need to comply with the peace bond’s conditions.
• The order will not appear on a standard criminal record check (and never did, assuming you were not convicted of breaching it).
• The order should stop appearing on a criminal record and judicial matters check.
• The order may still appear on a vulnerable sector check for a period, depending on the police service.
• Fingerprints, photographs, and police records relating to the original charge generally remain on file until you apply for file destruction.

If the peace bond resolved a criminal charge, that charge is normally withdrawn or stayed once you sign the peace bond, not after it expires — meaning by the time the bond ends, the underlying charge has already been disposed of. To fully clean up your police file after expiry, the standard step is to apply to the relevant police service for destruction of fingerprints, photographs, and the occurrence report.

FAQ

Does a peace bond affect employment?

A peace bond can affect employment, primarily for jobs that require a vulnerable sector check or a detailed police information check. For roles that require only a standard criminal record check, a peace bond will not appear and will generally not affect hiring.

The fields most likely to be affected are those involving children, patients, or other vulnerable people — including teaching, early childhood education, nursing, personal support work, social services, and many volunteer roles. Some regulated professions and licensing bodies may also ask about pending or recent peace bonds during the application process. Because police services in Ontario differ in how long they disclose peace bond entries after expiry, the best step before applying for a sensitive role is to obtain your own police record check first to see exactly what an employer would see.

Can I travel with a peace bond?

Within Canada, a peace bond does not restrict travel unless its specific conditions say so. International travel — particularly to the United States — can be more complicated.

Peace bond entries are stored in CPIC, and the Canadian government shares CPIC data with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The United States does not have an equivalent to a peace bond in its legal system, and U.S. border officers have broad discretion in admissibility decisions. An active peace bond can prompt secondary screening, questioning about the underlying allegation, or, in some cases, denial of entry — especially where the underlying conduct involved a category the U.S. treats as a “crime of moral turpitude.” Many lawyers advise waiting until the peace bond has expired before crossing into the U.S., and applying for police file destruction afterward to remove the related fingerprints and records from CPIC. For other countries, admissibility rules vary, and a peace bond may need to be disclosed on visa applications if asked.