If you don't allow a criminal to live in one of your units, it does not causes them to “violate a law in order to live.” There are not laws mandating criminals can or can not live in your rental. That decision is up to the landlord. There will always be landlords who don't care who rents from them. I also believe that people deserve a second chance. A prudent landlord looks over a background report to determine if this is the type of person he wants to rent to.