help me not freak out but

[Notmyidea]

How do you feel when your year seven casually mentions that the new friend, (the one they keep talking about) has a parent who came out of prison last week?
My first response was to question the truth of this fact, but it's real. Was for a violent offense. I want to be politically correct, forgiving etc. But my instinct is to certainly never let my child go to their home and discourage the friendship so it never becomes an issue...
Talk sense to me, please.

You can be a shit person but a brilliant parent. Just because you've been put away for something doesn't mean he'll bring any harm to your kid. I'd let the friendship continue but maybe monitor it a bit closer than usual.

Bloody hell I would not be pc at all. It would worry me shitless. Taking the view the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. However, if you say you don't approve it will only make the attraction of this new friend stronger. Just don't go out of your way to encourage it either.

Thanks both of you. I am worried shitless but I don't want to discriminate against some poor 12 year old because of their parent's behaviour. Does anyone know how it works with social services btw? The offense wasn't violence toward a member of the household, but I'm a bit surprised someone with that kind of record has been able to just go back to the family home.