Oct 30

Written by: jserigny
10/30/2008 1:44 PM

State Police Offer Halloween Safety Tips

LSP - The Louisiana State Police would like to encourage parents who will be taking their children Trick-or-Treating this Halloween to take advantage of the State Sex Offender Database to locate convicted sex offenders in their area.

Governor Bobby Jindal has made sex offender laws a top priority in his administration. Thanks to his initiative and a collaborative effort between state and local officials, the new State Sex Offender Database gives the public access to records pertaining to all sex offenders in the state. Parents can search their neighborhoods or any address where there is a concern a sex offender may be present while their children are trick-or-treating. The State and National Sex Offender databases can be found at www.LSP.org.

Under legislation that was recently passed this summer, sex offenders who have committed crimes against children or who have committed aggravated sex offenses against adults are prohibited from participating in Halloween-related activities. This includes wearing masks and costumes or passing out candy to children. Anyone violating this new law will face 6 months to 3 years in prison. If you observe someone known to be a sex offender participating in Halloween activities, notify State Police or your local Sheriff’s Office.

Department of Public Safety and Corrections officers, which include State Police and Probation and Parole, will be assisting local Sheriff’s Offices with identifying those who violate these laws through a joint agency statewide effort. Sex offenders under the supervision of Probation and Parole (P&P) have very clear rules to follow during Halloween. All supervised sex offenders who are not working Halloween night must be at home, with outside lighting turned off. Sex offenders cannot open their doors to trick-or-treaters.

Some Probation and Parole Districts are requiring sex offenders to report to the district office during trick-or-treating times so that supervised sex offenders are nowhere near children during those times. The required office visit also serves an additional useful role. P&P officers use this time as an opportunity to educate offenders on changes to the law in terms of registration or reporting requirements. It is a good opportunity for the sex offender to get all the information he or she may need to make sure they are following all local, state and federal laws.

For those districts not holding educational meetings, P&P Officers will be conducting random spot checks to ensure sex offenders are at home and following the rules set for them.

“It is our mission to ensure the safety of our children during this Halloween so they can have a safe and fun time. While law enforcement will do its best to protect children at all times, especially during Halloween, it is imperative that parents keep a watchful eye out for their children as well. If you are not part of your child’s life, someone else is.” says State Police Superintendent, Colonel Michael Edmonson.

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