Staying Away From Sex Offenders On Halloween
Many parents, and law enforcement officers, are worried about kids safety this Halloween. The Sheriff's Office in Walker County Sheriff's Office launched a new link on their website about a month ago. It lists all 110 sex offenders in the county, where they live, and what crime they committed. Sheriff Steve Wilson says it's a tool every parent should check, Halloween weekend.
Four year old Chance knows exactly what's he's doing tomorrow night. "Going trick or treating!? He is dressing up, and heading out for some candy. And his dad knows exactly who will be with him at every house. Jackie Cooper says, "Daddy and Momma is going up to the door with them, every door."
But Cooper says he doesn't feel safe taking his kids trick or treating in a new neighborhood. "For that reason only, just moved down here and don't trust my neighborhood, I'll go somewhere else I know."
That's because Cooper is scared of exactly who might answer the door for his boys. "Cause I don't want my kids around sex offenders because sex offenders are dangerous."
Sheriff Steve Wilson says he understands that concern, and wants parents to be prepared this Halloween. Now, on the sheriff's office website, you simply put in an address and search who stays nearby on the offender watch link. When you click on the marks, you can see who the convicted criminal is and what they did. Sheriff Wilson says it's a good resource for all families, especially on a night when kids are out knocking on strangers' doors. "That someone might pull a child in a home and do unthinkable things to a child, you simply never know."
While he hopes that won't happen, he says at least now you can know who lives where. Especially since in Georgia, sex offenders are not required to post signs in their yards, or even turn off their lights on Halloween night. It's a warning that Cooper welcomes. "Sex offenders can hurt a kid quick, and I don't want my kid hurt."
In other states, like Tennessee, the Board of Probation and Parole is restricting sex offenders this Halloween.
They are not allowed to pass out candy, decorate their home, go to haunted houses, or take their children trick or treating.
