> There have just been too many incidents of people with e.g. sexual assault on their rap sheets turning up working in shelters where there are all manner of vulnerable people.
No chance such a person might be trying to help others as a sort of payback to society for his past transgressions, I guess. Or might have such a record because some girl at his school had a morning-after regret and now he has a record that prevents him from doing almost anything else with his time other than volunteer.
Why do you assume that the criminal is 'unrepentant'? If he is released from prison after serving the sentence doesn't it imply a chance for rehabilitation?
Why do you assume a criminal is repentant? Past performance does not indicate future results, but the 5-year recidivism rate for former criminals in the US is nearly 80%, so I think some prudence is certainly in order.
US is a bad example. The way former convicts are treated in the US - their whole lives being ruined and employment opportunities denied - one could argue they are almost deliberately pushed into the life of crime.
The US is the only relevant example here. We're talking about the American Red Cross operating in a US territory. I'm sure folks from other countries do offer to help, but where do you think most of the volunteers for the American Red Cross helping in a US territory are going to come from?
No chance such a person might be trying to help others as a sort of payback to society for his past transgressions, I guess. Or might have such a record because some girl at his school had a morning-after regret and now he has a record that prevents him from doing almost anything else with his time other than volunteer.