Pare Dating – Background Check Policy

Criminal Background Check Policy

Last Updated: February 2026

Pare requires a criminal background check for every applicant before they can join our community. This is not something we do lightly — we recognize that a criminal record does not define a person, and that context, time, and rehabilitation matter.

At the same time, our members deserve to feel genuinely safe. We serve adults 40 and over, many of whom are returning to dating after years away and placing real trust in us to vet the people they meet. That responsibility shapes everything in this policy.

Our screening is not about punishment or moral judgement. It is about one question: does this person's history present a meaningful risk to the safety of our members?

Automatic Disqualifiers

The following convictions result in an automatic, permanent denial of membership. There are no exceptions and no appeal process for these categories. They represent offences where someone caused direct harm to another person or poses an ongoing risk to public safety.

Violent Crimes Against a Person

Murder, manslaughter, or any homicide offence
Assault causing bodily harm, aggravated assault, or assault with a weapon
Domestic violence — any conviction involving a partner, spouse, or family member
Attempted murder or grievous bodily harm
Kidnapping, forcible confinement, or human trafficking
Robbery (which involves force or threat of force)
Child abuse or any offence against a minor

Sexual Offences

Sexual assault or rape, regardless of degree
Sexual exploitation or abuse of any kind
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or related offences
Voyeurism, non-consensual distribution of intimate images
Registration on a national or state sex offender registry
Any offence where sexual misconduct was a factor

Stalking & Harassment

Criminal harassment or stalking convictions
Uttering threats against another person
Repeated or aggravated harassment where a pattern of targeting was established

Fraud & Financial Crimes Targeting Individuals

Our members are often established professionals and retirees. Romance scams and financial exploitation are serious and growing threats to this demographic. We take fraud extremely seriously.

Fraud, deception, or misrepresentation that caused financial or personal harm to victims
Elder financial abuse or exploitation
Identity theft
Extortion or blackmail

Weapons Offences Involving Violence or Threats

Possession or use of a weapon in connection with another offence
Unlawful discharge of a firearm
Weapons-related charges that involved another person being threatened or harmed

The Common Thread

Every category above involves a conviction where someone was harmed, threatened, exploited, or put at risk by the applicant's direct actions. These are not restrictions based on lifestyle, background, or personal history — they are restrictions based on demonstrated harm to other people.

Reviewed Case-by-Case

Some criminal history exists in a grey area — offences where the passage of time, the nature of the conviction, and demonstrated rehabilitation genuinely matter. For these, we review the full context before making a decision. We do not automatically deny on these grounds.

Factors we consider during review:

How long ago the offence occurred
Whether the offence involved harm to another person
Whether it was an isolated incident or part of a pattern
Whether the applicant has completed any required program, sentence, or condition
Any additional context provided by the applicant

Impaired Driving (DUI / DWI)

A DUI is a serious offence, but it does not automatically bar someone from Pare — particularly when it is old, isolated, and did not result in harm to another person. A DUI from 15 or 20 years ago with no related history since is generally not disqualifying. A recent DUI, multiple DUIs, or a DUI involving a collision that injured someone will be reviewed more carefully and may result in denial.

Non-Violent Drug Offences

Personal use, simple possession, or older drug-related convictions that did not involve violence or exploitation are typically reviewed with the full context in mind. We recognize that laws and attitudes around substance use have changed significantly over time.

Minor Property Offences

Old, minor theft or property offences — particularly from early adulthood — may not disqualify an applicant when no harm to an individual was involved, significant time has passed, and there is no pattern of repeat offending.

Misdemeanours and Minor Infractions

Low-level misdemeanours that did not involve victims, bodily harm, or exploitation are evaluated with context. These are generally not disqualifying on their own.

What Does Not Disqualify You

We want to be clear about what we are not screening for, so applicants understand the standard.

Traffic violations, speeding tickets, or minor driving infractions (excluding DUI)
Charges that were stayed, withdrawn, dropped, or resulted in acquittal
Records that have been expunged or pardoned
Civil disputes, lawsuits, or non-criminal matters
Arrests that did not result in a conviction
Infractions with no victim and no meaningful public safety concern
Old, isolated incidents that are inconsistent with an otherwise clear record

How the Process Works

1. Consent and Authorization

Every applicant provides written consent for a background check as part of the Pare application. No check is run without your knowledge and explicit authorization.

2. Third-Party Screening

We use a third-party background check provider to search public criminal records. This typically includes national criminal databases, sex offender registries, and court records. Results are generally returned within 24–72 hours.

3. Internal Review

Our team reviews any flagged results. Automatic disqualifiers result in an immediate denial. Cases that fall into the review category are assessed individually by a member of the Pare team before a final decision is made.

4. Decision and Notification

You will be notified whether your application has been approved or denied. If denied, we will confirm that a background check result was a factor, but we do not share the specific details of what was found. We encourage applicants to request a copy of their background check from the provider if they believe there may be an error.

5. Disputes and Errors

Criminal records databases sometimes contain errors, outdated information, or records that belong to someone else. If you believe your denial was the result of inaccurate information, contact us at hello@paredating.com and we will work with you to review the situation. You also have the right to dispute information directly with the background check provider.

Ongoing Membership Standards

Passing a background check at the time of application does not guarantee permanent membership.

If we become aware of a disqualifying conviction after a member has joined — through a report, news coverage, or any other means — we will investigate and may revoke membership.
Members are required to disclose any new criminal charge or conviction that would fall under the automatic disqualifier categories. Failure to disclose is grounds for immediate removal.
Behaviour on the platform that suggests deception, harassment, or harm to other members may also result in account suspension or removal, independent of criminal record.

Limitations of Background Checks

We want to be honest about what background checks can and cannot do.

Background checks show convictions, not accusations. Someone who has harmed others but was never charged or convicted will not appear.
Database completeness varies by jurisdiction and record age. Some older or international records may not be captured.
A clean background check is not a guarantee of character. Trust your instincts, use our safety tips, and report anything that feels wrong.

Background checks are one layer of protection — not the only one. We also require government ID verification, live photo verification, and use AI-assisted fraud detection. Our date concierge, Emma, is available to support members who have concerns before or after a date.

Our Commitment

We built Pare for the generation that spent decades building a life — and deserves a safe, honest place to find connection in the next chapter. That means holding a real standard, not just checking a box.

Our policy will evolve as we learn. If you have questions about how a specific situation is handled, or if you are an applicant with concerns about your record, reach out before applying. We would rather have an honest conversation than lose a good person to a process that was not designed with their full story in mind.

Safety and fairness are not opposites. We are committed to both.

Questions about this policy or your background check?