Sex offenders to be rounded up this Halloween
The Texas Department of Public Safety has made available to the public a free online sex offender registry that is searchable by name, address, county, school and ZIP code. Results can be displayed as text or as a map, allowing you to enter your own address and identify registered sex offenders in your area.
McALLEN -- Hidalgo County probation officials are rounding up sex offenders this Halloween - something they hope will scare them into staying away from young trick-or-treaters.
About 200 men and women who have committed a sex offense with someone younger than 17 years old will be required to attend an education seminar at the courthouse auditorium on Halloween night.
Frank Calvo, who oversees the probation department's sex offender program, said he hopes this will prevent them from coming into contact with young children.
"The whole purpose is to keep them away from children," Calvo said. "It helps keep (sex offenders) out of trouble."
Texas requires registered sex offenders to turn off their porch lights and prohibits them from having any exterior decorations between 5 p.m. on Halloween and 5 a.m. the next day.
Last week in San Antonio, 24 sex offenders were arrested during a two-day sweep as part of a national preemptive Halloween crackdown.
But it will take more than corralling sex offenders to keep children safe on Halloween.
Officials armed parents were with trick-or-treating safety tips Wednesday night at Mission Regional Medical Center.
"There's a lot of potential danger with kids going into strangers' houses," said Evelyn Sanchez, a spokeswoman for the hospital. "It's important for parents to be aware of their children, especially on a night like Halloween."
Sanchez said parents must be particularly careful about letting children cross dark streets.
Parents and children who attended the event received glow-in-the-dark bracelets for the children to wear to make them more visible while they trick-or-treat.
"It's always good to be careful," Sanchez said.
____
Ana Ley covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.
____
Halloween safety and sex offenders
>> Texas requires registered sex offenders to turn off their porch lights and prohibits them to have any exterior decorations between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m.
>> In Missouri, four sex offenders are suing over a new state law that requires them to avoid all Halloween-related contact with children, remain inside their homes and post a sign saying they have no candy to keep trick-or-treaters away. The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri filed suit on the offenders' behalf in federal court Wednesday, arguing the provisions are too vague to enforce.
>> Maryland has an almost identical law and last week sent 1,200 violent offenders and child sex offenders a paper sign in the mail that read "No candy at this residence" and which they must post on their front doors or risk a parole violation.
>> South Carolina has a 5 p.m. Halloween curfew for sex offenders on probation or parole. They cannot give out candy or have their outdoor lights on.
>> In New York, the Division of Parole requires registered sex offenders to stay home or in designated locations and makes spot checks to enforce the rule. Sex offenders also can't answer the door to trick-or-treaters, have Halloween candy in their possession or dress in costume.
Source: The Associated Press
