Photograph and Fingerprint Destruction

Most of the time, when you are facing criminal charges, you are required to provide police with photographs and fingerprints. Police services keep a database of fingerprints and photographs to solve future criminal investigations.

If you are acquitted (found not guilty) by a judge or jury, or if your charges are withdrawn or stayed by the Crown, you can submit a request to the relevant police force to have your fingerprint and photograph records destroyed. If you are found guilty of a criminal offence, then your photographs and fingerprints will permanently remain on file with the police.

In many cases, the police will comply with such a request. The request form, information required and waiting period to submit a destruction request varies across police services. The timing of the destruction of your records on the manner in which the charges were disposed of (i.e. withdrawn, stayed, or acquittal) and the internal policy of the police force responsible for the charges.

If you’d like a lawyer’s assistance completing or submitting a fingerprint/photograph destruction request, please contact Sara Little by filling out this form.

Disclaimer: Please note that this article is not legal advice. It is simply intended to be a simplified explanations of the criminal process in Ontario. There may be differences, however, in different jurisdictions or courthouses within Ontario based on their own rules, regulation or common practices. If you’ve been charged with a criminal offence or are anticipating potential charges, don’t hesitate to reach out to a lawyer for a consultation to discuss the particulars or details of your case.