At Brampton’s fingerprint date, you get papers with a circled date and the word prints written somewhere on them. You’re not sure what this is all about. Let me clear that up. Fingerprints date has nothing to do with whether you did something wrong or not. It’s just a routine stop to get your prints and photo taken. Under federal law for indictable charges or dual procedure charges ranging from assault to shoplifting over $5,000, police are allowed to do this. Usually Peel Regional Police handle this and it’s just a quick stop before you have your first real court date.
If arrested and released directly from Peel Regional Police station officers may have already taken prints. This happens more often than people realize. If prints were not taken at time of arrest which is common if charges come via Appearance Notice or summons rather than arrest, your release paperwork will specify a certain date and location to go for identification. Usually this is a division office of Peel Regional Police or Forensic Identification Services unit. Carefully check your paperwork because buildings can change depending on which division laid the charges. Don’t guess. If anything is unclear, call the number listed. This separate appointment is different from your court date at the A. Grenville and William Davis Courthouse on Hurontario Street. People frequently mix these up and this mix up causes real problems.
Inside A Grenville and William Davis Courthouse
if you are charged in Brampton and Mississauga, you know the imposing building at 7755 Hurontario Street, very well. You won’t go to a regular police station. Bring original release forms and government ID like a driver’s license or passport. Walking into that courthouse is quite intimidating. You go through airport style security and empty your pockets and pass through metal detectors before ending up at fingerprinting office. When you enter those specific doors, you wait. Sometimes you sit there for ten minutes but if the morning line is backed up you might stare at the wall for an hour. When your name is called, a Peel Police technician will take your digital fingerprints and take some photos. That’s it. Police won’t question you about the alleged crime. Technicians taking prints know absolutely nothing about your specific case. They process hundreds of people each week. Don’t try to explain your side to them. Clients have gotten themselves into deeper trouble nervously chatting with police while their hands are on the scanner. Save breath and talk to your lawyer rather than the state.
The CPIC Database and Your Privacy
Data uploads immediately to CPIC, the national police database. Every police force in the country now has your prints and face on file. If you try crossing US borders while charges are pending, Customs and Border Protection will see those charges right away. Expect to be turned back. I frequently see people make a really big and life changing mistake at this stage. They panic and decide to stay home. Missing your fingerprint appointment is separate criminal offense. As soon as you miss that date, the system flags you and a justice of peace issues a bench warrant for your arrest. Imagine getting pulled over three weeks later on Bovaird Drive for a broken taillight. The officer runs your plates and the warrant appears; you are immediately arrested right there on the side of the road and handcuffed and held for a formal bail hearing. You transformed a manageable situation into a nightmare. You handed the prosecutor a new charge.
Can I Reschedule My Fingerprints Date in Brampton?
if you really can’t make it? Things happen. Serious emergencies happen. You can’t just skip the appointment hoping police understand. You should contact Peel Regional Police proactively. Dial 905 453 3311 and extension 4840 to speak directly to fingerprint technicians. Tell them clearly why you can’t make it. Ask to reschedule. Get name or badge number of person you spoke to and write down exact time of call. Paper trails are important for cases.
What Documents Should I Bring to My Appointment?
Bring government ID. Bring paper given to you by police: Appearance Notice, Undertaking or Release Order listing charges and conditions. Leave other things at home. You don’t need your lawyer sticking their card to forehead, but you should already have retained one by now even if they are not standing next to you in the room.
What Happens When I Arrive for At Fingerprints Date
Arriving for fingerprinting is mechanical and quick. Usually, an officer or ID technician uses a digital scanner rather than ink nowadays, but some stations still use pads. They photograph your face too. They cross check your name, date of birth and address against charges documents. That’s pretty much the whole appointment, usually fifteen to thirty minutes plus however long you’re waiting in line. Nobody interrogates you here. This isn’t time to have a heartfelt talk with an officer who seems nice about what happened last night. Just confirm your identifying information. Clients have undone weeks of careful work because they chatted up friendly officers in waiting rooms. Being friendly doesn’t mean confidential. Whatever you say to police is never confidential.
What Happens If I Miss My Fingerprints Date?
Missing fingerprints appointment is not something you can just brush off lightly. It’s a violation. Failing to show up as required as part of your release conditions triggers section 145 of the Criminal Code and results in a new charge of failure to comply. Suddenly charges you were fighting for shoplifting also have another unrelated charge that prosecutors find easier to prove. Judges and Justices of Peace don’t like to hear “I forgot” when your freedom was conditional on showing up. If legitimate reasons come up— you’re sick, you’re abroad, your shift was changed with no notice— call the number on your paperwork before the date rather than afterward. Showing up with advance notice and rescheduling looks very different from police having to chase someone who doesn’t show up.
Fingerprints and First Appearance
Your first court appearance deals with the actual charges: whether you will plead, whether prosecutors consider resolution options, and whether your case needs to be set for trial. Fingerprints date refers to paperwork and biometric information. One happens at courthouse in front of a judicial official. The other happens at a police station in front of a technician using a scanner. People new to this system frequently mix up attending one with satisfying the other mistake.
Can I Bring My Lawyer to the Fingerprints Appointment?
Honestly, criminal defence lawyers usually don’t show up personally for fingerprint appointments and you generally don’t need someone standing right next to you there. What really matters is that you spoke to a lawyer before this date. You understand exactly what you’re getting into and know what not to blurt out if people start small talk about your case. Something I see often in Peel is that someone charged with assault charges is released with conditions and has a fingerprints date two weeks away. During that gap between arrest and that appointment, people have time to panic, talk to friends, post something regrettable online or show up shaken and oversharing. People who handle things smoothly are those who got legal advice right from the start, not the day before their first court date. Handle fingerprint collection as routine because it is. But handle the two weeks surrounding that as anything but routine because charges worsen during that time rather than improve. Get legal help before you step inside that building and not after something you say there comes back to embarrass you in court.
Disclaimer: Information provided on this blog is for general informational purposes only, it does not constitute legal advice. If you have a case at the Brampton Criminal Court and need legal representation, contact Manbir Nirwal for a free consultation. We’re here to help.
