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October 27th, 2005
"Sex-Abuse Laws Go Into Effect This Halloween"
This Halloween new laws will go into effect throughout the country that limit the exposure paroled-sex criminals have to children who are trick-or-treating. The laws either keep the parolees indoors for the night, or keep them from even answering their door if the doorbell should ring on Halloween. The laws are in response to a number of things, but primarily are in place to keep ex-sex offenders away from repeated visits by costumed children.
In New Jersey the laws state that the ex-sex offenders should not answer their doors. In Texas, parolees who have child-contact restrictions are required to not attend any Halloween activities. In New York, many cities are requiring parolees on probation to attend programs on Halloween night.
The new legal restrictions were passed as preventative measures, rather than a response to any Halloween incident by ex-sex offenders. The measures target people who already are under some amount of movement restriction and include ex-offenders who are either on parole or probation. The laws cover the evening and late afternoon hours and will require probation or police officers that check on the men.
Laws are in effect in some six states, including Texas, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey. In Virginia, laws have been in effect since 2002 under their “Operation Trick No Treat” wherein ex-offenders are required to check in with their parole offices on Halloween night.
