Why was Grant Ward's crime not detected when he joined SHIELD Academy?
Towards the end of Agents of SHIELD season 1, we are told that Grant Ward was in Juvenile detention center for setting his house on fire, with his brother inside the house. Then John Garett breaks him out of prison. So, he was not acquitted of his crime, but a fugitive on the run. About 5 years later, John Garett says that Grant Ward got accepted into SHIELD Academy (Operations). Do they not check the person's history? If so, why was Grant Ward's crime not detected?
PS: I've seen all 7 seasons of AoS and all 23 MCU movies. So, do not worry about spoilers. Though I haven't seen other series like Agent Carter, I don't mind spoilers for those (if any).
Best Answer
At the time of Ward's hiring, S.H.I.E.L.D. had a certain dysfunction in their mission statement.
This particular dysfunction came intensely to light in the movie "Captain America: The Winter Soldier".
Given that, the choice to hire Ward despite his faults seems more reasonable, given what we learn of S.H.I.E.L.D. above.
This makes even more sense based on what we learn about Ward in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Epsiode 20, "Nothing Personal" - the relevant message left by Skye (not yet Daisy) on a window shade.
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