What is a conditional discharge? what is an absolute discharge? what is the difference between a conditional discharge and an absolute discharge?

The Criminal Code of Canada provides that someone found guilty of a criminal offence may be discharged.  A Conditional Discharge is a sentence in which you may be found guilty of an offence but no conviction is registered against you (in other words, you will have no criminal record).  Although a discharge is not considered a conviction, a record of an Absolute Discharge or Conditional Discharge is kept by the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) and by the police agency that laid the charge and is only purged from your police record after three years.

The Criminal Records Act states that, except in exceptional circumstances, if you satisfy the terms of your discharge, no record may be disclosed after a three year waiting period. For this to happen you must satisfy the conditions placed on you by the court.  Once you satisfy those conditions, your discharge becomes absolute and your waiting period begins. You may be placed on probation for a period of up to three years. If you fail to meet the conditions of the probation, or commit another criminal offence during the probation period, you may be returned to court where the discharge is cancelled and receive a criminal conviction and sentence on the original offence, and for breach of probation.

A court may grant a Conditional Discharge or an Absolute Discharge only for offences with no minimum penalty, and a maximum penalty of less than fourteen years.