Background investigation

Irover wrote:
. The public should feel safe when they are around strangers they don't even know.

What other kind of strangers are there?
Background checks are for the protection of the hiring entity. Hosts may be handling money or have access to areas where they could potentially obtain restricted information (credit card numbers etc.) Background checks do little to add to your personal security. The odds are much greater that one of the other campers is dangerous versus the camp host being dangerous. And the odds of either being dangerous are pretty dang close to zero. There just isn't that many mass murders being committed at campgrounds.

Not really sure why the Army Corps of Engineers is more strict on their background checks, finger printing, etc. Have done that, been there, and here now .. although have volunteered for the Fish & Wildlife Service, and didn't go thru the hoops we did for the US Army Corps of Engineers.

We enjoy volunteering for the Oregon State Parks, and went thru the whole background, finger printing, etc. thing, but since all that went to the State of Oregon that makes it much easier to volunteer. When we see a posting, we send an email, and talk with the Rangers. Not sure how often we have to go thru the background checks, etc., but so far have been ok.

One point to make though, if you are working/volunteering where access to the Government/Military Computers then that is an altogether more intense back ground, etc. check.

westernrvparkowner wrote:
... The odds are much greater that one of the other campers is dangerous versus the camp host being dangerous.

I would say that the odds are about equal. Why would a prospective camp host be inherently less dangerous than a regular camper? Someone who makes his living constantly travelling, working sometimes for no pay (hence no social security number, so no "footprint" the government can follow), spending most of his/her time out "in the woods" where the chances of being identified are lower - sounds like the perfect gig for those trying to stay "under the radar".

We once worked at an RV park where one other workamping couple was a "little strange" - around the time we were leaving we discovered a few "interesting" points: 1) She was the only "official" worker - only her social security number appeared on any paperwork in the office, their vehicle and trailer were registered in her name only. 2) He never left the park - she did the shopping, etc, for the family.

"Just sayin" - I think background checks might be a good thing. This is a lifestyle which could appeal to someone "hiding out".

bluegypsy wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:
... The odds are much greater that one of the other campers is dangerous versus the camp host being dangerous.

I would say that the odds are about equal. Why would a prospective camp host be inherently less dangerous than a regular camper? Someone who makes his living constantly travelling, working sometimes for no pay (hence no social security number, so no "footprint" the government can follow), spending most of his/her time out "in the woods" where the chances of being identified are lower - sounds like the perfect gig for those trying to stay "under the radar".

We once worked at an RV park where one other workamping couple was a "little strange" - around the time we were leaving we discovered a few "interesting" points: 1) She was the only "official" worker - only her social security number appeared on any paperwork in the office, their vehicle and trailer were registered in her name only. 2) He never left the park - she did the shopping, etc, for the family.

"Just sayin" - I think background checks might be a good thing. This is a lifestyle which could appeal to someone "hiding out".

For two reasons. One, there are about 100 campers for every host, making the odds greatly in favor of the camper being the bad guy. And two, the hiring entity has all the information on the host, so if they do something bad it is pretty easy to find them. A camper is pretty much anonymous, Give a fake name at check in, and you wouldn't have a clue to begin to know who they were or where they are from. And criminals really like anonymity. As for they guy who never left the RV park, there are many reasons why, almost all of them not criminal in nature. Maybe he has a social anxiety disorder, maybe he is mentally challenged, maybe he is physically unable to drive due to muscular problems, vision problems, or other health problems. Criminals that are hiding out are able to do so by not drawing attention to themselves, hence they act normally. The odds that someone would recognize someone as a wanted person are virtually negligible even if that person is a semi-famous fugitive. That Whitey Bulger guy in Boston freely roamed California for years and he was one of the FBIs most wanted criminals, had a movie made about him (The Departed) and was shown on countless crime shows. While background checks are surely helpful in preventing crime in special situations (pedophiles might actively seek daycare jobs, drug addicts jobs at medical related facilities and credit card scammers jobs at credit card processors), they just don't really make the public that much safer for most professions.

Just a quick report on my "concerns" ... I was just offered a volunteer position for Benbrook Lake starting in September!!! Obviously, the minor infractions were nothing to worry about on the background check, they weren't even mentioned.