Identification of Criminals Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. I-1)

Short Title

Marginal note:Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Identification of Criminals Act.

Her Majesty

Marginal note:Binding on Her Majesty

1.1 This Act is binding on Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province.

Identification of Criminals

Marginal note:Fingerprints and photographs

• 2 (1) The following persons may be fingerprinted or photographed or subjected to such other measurements, processes and operations having the object of identifying persons as are approved by order of the Governor in Council:

  • (a) any person who is in lawful custody charged with or convicted of

    • (i) an indictable offence — or an offence punishable on summary conviction if it is an offence that could also have been prosecuted by indictment — other than an offence that is designated as a contravention under the Contraventions Act in respect of which the Attorney General, within the meaning of that Act, has made an election under section 50 of that Act, or

    • (ii) an offence under the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act;

    • (iii) [Repealed, 2022, c. 17, s. 62]

  • (b) any person who has been apprehended under the Extradition Act;

  • (c) any person who is required under subsection 485.2(1), 500(3), 501(4) or 509(5) or section 515.01 of the Criminal Code to appear for the purposes of this Act by an appearance notice, undertaking, summons or order because they are alleged to have committed an indictable offence — or an offence punishable on summary conviction if it is an offence that could also have been prosecuted by indictment — other than an offence that is

    • (i) an offence that is designated as a contravention under the Contraventions Act in respect of which the Attorney General, within the meaning of that Act, has made an election under section 50 of that Act, or

    • (ii) an offence in respect of which proceedings were commenced by a peace officer under section 51 of the Cannabis Act; or

  • (d) any person who is in lawful custody pursuant to section 83.3 of the Criminal Code.

• Marginal note:Use of force

  (2) Such force may be used as is necessary to the effectual carrying out and application of the measurements, processes and operations described under subsection (1).

• Marginal note:Publication

  (3) The results of the measurements, processes and operations to which a person has been subjected pursuant to subsection (1) may be published for the purpose of affording information to officers and others engaged in the execution or administration of the law.

Marginal note:No liability for acting under Act

3 No liability, civil or criminal, for anything lawfully done under this Act shall be incurred by any person

• (a) having custody of a person described in subsection 2(1);

• (b) acting in the aid or under the direction of a person having such custody; or

• (c) concerned in the publication of results under subsection 2(3).

Destruction of Fingerprints and Photographs

Marginal note:Destruction of fingerprints and photographs

4 Where a person charged with an offence that is designated as a contravention under the Contraventions Act is fingerprinted or photographed and the Attorney General, within the meaning of that Act, makes an election under section 50 of that Act, the fingerprints or photographs shall be destroyed.

Marginal note:Destruction of fingerprints and photographs – Cannabis Act

5 If a person charged with an offence referred to in any of paragraphs 51(2)(a) to (j) of the Cannabis Act is fingerprinted or photographed and the Attorney General, within the meaning of that Act, makes an election under section 58 of that Act, the fingerprints or photographs shall be destroyed.