MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) is once again working with local law enforcement agencies across the state to conduct random home visits of registered sex offenders on community supervision during trick-or-treating hours.
In total, the DOC supervises 66,462 people on community supervision, probation, or parole, including 6,018 registered sex offenders. Every year, probation and parole agents remind sex offenders of Halloween-specific restrictions and work to hold them accountable for any violations.
These restrictions, which have been established to protect children while they are trick-or-treating, prohibit sex offenders on community supervision from:
· Having any Halloween decorations, either inside or outside their residence
· Handing out candy or participating in trick or treat activities
· Wearing a Halloween costume
· Turning on their porch light during trick or treating hours
In 2018, agents conducted more than 2,200 home visits and took 43 sex offenders into custody for alleged supervision violations. Sex Offender Registration Program Director Grace Knutson shared the following important reminders for safe trick-or-treating:
· Children should always be accompanied by a parent or trusted adult
· Stay on well-lit streets and stick to neighborhoods you know well
· Only stop at homes with a lit porch light
· Never enter a home or car for a treat
· Trick-or-treaters are encouraged to carry a cell phone for quick communication
· Call 911 if you see any suspicious or unlawful activity
· Children should yell “No!” and try to escape if a stranger tries to take them somewhere
· Have a responsible adult check treats at the end of the night
It is also helpful to parents to sit down with their children before trick-or-treating to discuss these tips and develop a strategy if families get separated. The Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry website enables users to search for a specific offender, search for offenders up to three miles from a specific address, or search for all offenders in a certain municipality, ZIP code, or county.
Members of the public can also contact the Sex Offender Safe Tip Line at 1-877-234-0085 with questions or to report potential violations of Halloween restrictions. If the public sees any unlawful activity or they feel threatened, they should call 911.