Job Discussion Forums

matchstick_man · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 244 Location: Taiwan

Is it a new requirement in Taiwan to have one? http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?read=9233

All the other requests for documentation look reasonable.

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

Go and smash a window at 7-11, that'll do it.

Murderers are probably over qualified.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

Foreign Criminal record checks are only required for those applying for Permanent Residency. I have seen no reports about teachers being required to have a foreign criminal record check.
Local Criminal record checks are done when you enter the area controlled by the Republic of China. If you have a criminal record in the ROC then you may have some problems getting an ARC as a teacher.
The Republic of China has no information sharing agreements with any international law enforcement agency. That means if they want to check to see if you have a criminal record in other countries the ROC must abide by those countries laws and regulations. In most all progressive nations such information is not made available without the written permission of the individual being checked.
In Canada there is no provision to supply such information even if it is requested by Canadian Citizens about themselves.
Right to privacy is an alien concept in the Republic of China on Taiwan.
Good luck,
A.

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 9:24 am Post subject:

I had my local constabulary conduct a criminal record check before I left home just in case someone here decided they wanted one. It took two weeks and cost $40.00

Rice Paddy Daddy · Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 425 Location: Japan

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

I have to disagree, Aristotle. I'm not sure if you are Canadian, or have ever actually been there, but you have a right to this sort of information as a citizen and can access it on demand. The freedom of information act comes immediately to mind in terms of legislation guaranteeing you access.

Also, a criminal record follows you anywhere in Canada, not just the local jurisdiction. You apply for a criminal record check at your local police department (be it RCMP or local police). That doesn't mean you only have a record in that neighborhood. You are niether charged with a criminal offense nor convicted of it by your local police detachment in Canada. You are charged by "the crown," basically the Canadian government. To suggest you could get a clean report at another town's police department shows a fundamental lack of knowledge of Canada's legal system.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

Aristotle: are you Canadian or aren't you? The record of the kinds of offences that would keep you (rightfully) from obtaining a teaching job is readily available. Citizens have access tot his kind of information. Canada has legislation guaranteeing access. My mix-up on the name after years of living abroad doesn't change the fact that it exists. In your latest, you concede this. Thank You. You cannot simply, as you suggest, go to another precinct out of the area where you live, request a criminal record check and get a clean record as a result. That's just nonsense. And there is a time limit on some offenses, yes. I don't think a shop-lifting conviction you got when you were 20 should haunt you when you're 40. On the other hand a rape conviction ought to and would. Minor offences that result in prison terms of less than two years are handled by provincial authorities. More serious crimes are handled federally. You are correct in this. Not sure what relevence it has to this discussion. Not sure where you are leading this thread, but it's certainly off-topic now.

The original poster asked if a criminal record check was required. You have now turned this into an argument about Canadian law with the ultimate goal of trying to portray Canada as some kind of lawless haven. You spend too much time on your computer cooking up conspiracy theories and not enough time in the real world. It's quite likely you've never even been to Canada.

Rice Paddy Daddy · Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 425 Location: Japan

Steve, Aristotle:

First, police services have different data bases used to record information on criminals and suspects, winesses, victims, etc. There are two main data bases. One is local, the other national

Police Informatin Retrieval System (PIRS):
This local data base contains information on all local calls for police service. For example, if I call the Burnaby or Coquitlam RCMP to report a suspicious vehicle parked in front of a construction site at 2:30am, I would be listedon PIRS as a complainant. If the police come and arrest people a few minutes later for stealing lumber from teh constructin site, then I would be flagged as a witness and those arrested would be flagged on PIRS as SUS/CHA (suspect, charged).

I think this is the local data base that Aristotle refers to above. Aristotle is correct when he says that you could call the Nanaimo RCMP and ask about your record on PIRS and they are under no legal obligation to provide this information to you.

Moreover, as per Aristotle's post, Nanaimo RCMP would not have any information on their local PIRS data base regarding police contact you might have had with, say, the North Vancouver RCMP.

While all The PIRS data bases are linked with all RCMP and municipal police services across Canada, it would be a pain in the ass to check and you would need to have all of the ORI numbers for each police department that you wanted to check - Not impossible though.

The PIRS data bases include criminal convictions as well as info on non-criminal convictions. So, you could be on PIRS merely for reporting an incendent. If your neighbor beats his kids and you report it to the local police, you'll most likely and should be flagged as a complainant or even witness.

Large city police services also have their own data bases such as CABS, used by the Vancouver City Police.

Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC):
This is a national data base that contains information on all court convictions, stolen cars, probation conditions and sentencing information as well as missing and wanted people. All police services, including American police departments access this data base. I

it doesn't matter where you live in Canada, any information on someone who has been reported missing, had a car stolen or charged, convicted and sentenced will come up when the person's name and birth date or driver's lincese numbner are punched into the CPIC search field.

The RCMP also maintains a national finger print data base service.

In order to do a complete criminal records search, finger prints are also required to be taken.

People can pay to have a criminal records check and can obtain the forms from their local police station. They will also have to indicate a reason for the criminal records check.

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

Thanks for an informative post, RPD. I would agree with Aristotle on one point: criminal record checks are not required here at this moment. Sad statement, but A is right when he says criminals are welcome on the ROC. I have met individuals who are here running from things back home. Don't know how many I've met who wouldn't admit to it.

matchstick_man · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 244 Location: Taiwan

No I didn't ask anything about a criminal record check. My post was tongue and cheek. I just found it amusing that amongst all the qualifications the school asked for a criminal record. I was actually expecting my post to disappear.

Sadly there are a lot of people in the EFL profession with criminal records which largely go unchecked. It's not limited to Taiwan.