Police hang 'no trick-or-treat' signs at the homes of registered sex offenders

Police are warning trick-or-treaters to avoid the homes of registered sex offenders by placing warning signs on their properties.

“As Sheriff, there is nothing more important to me than the safety of your children. This Halloween, my office has placed signs in front of every registered sex offender’s house to notify the public that it’s a house to avoid,” sheriff Gary Long of the Butts County Sheriff’s Office in Jackson, Ga., wrote on Facebook Saturday.

“Law forbids registered sex offenders from participating in Halloween, to include decorations on their property,” he continued. “With the Halloween on the square not taking place this year, I fully expect the neighborhoods to be very active with children trick-or-treating. Make sure to avoid houses which are marked with the attached posted signs in front of their residents. I hope you and your children have a safe and enjoyable Halloween. It is an honor and privilege to serve as your sheriff.”

The sheriff noted that the signs, which read, “Warning! No trick-or-treat at this address!!” are in adherence to Georgia law, “which states the sheriff shall inform the public of the presence of sexual offenders in each community.”

“The signs are to notify the community of the presence of the offender, which is outlined in Georgia law,” Long tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “It is my duty as sheriff to ensure the safety of my communities, and that is exactly what I am doing.”

Police decided to hang the signs after a local Halloween event was canceled, opening the possibility that a greater number of trick-or-treaters would fill the streets. “The big challenge that we face here in Butts County, for years. … They’ve always done Halloween on the square, and on Halloween night, we would have anywhere from 2,500 to 4,000 children,” Long told local news station 11 Alive.

In the past, Long told the news outlet, the sheriff’s office has placed signs on the front doors of registered sex offenders; however, this year, he wanted to more clearly warn families of the county’s more than 50 sex offenders.

“There are some sex offenders that are not happy,” Long told 11 Alive. “But I’m not in the business of making them happy. I’m in the business of keeping safe communities and making sure that our children are protected.”

There is a lack of evidence that sexual abusers pose a bigger risk to children on Halloween (as reported by various outlets), but many cities take precautions on Oct. 31. In Springfield, Mo., from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., sexual offenders convicted after 2006 must stay inside their homes with the lights off and post a sign that states, “No candy or treats at this residence,” according to the news station Ozarks First.

The police in Tampa, Fla., have been visiting homes of registered sex offenders, issuing warnings for Halloween protocol. “On the 31st when the kids are out, the porch light can’t be on, no outward decorations for Halloween, anything that’s gonna make somebody want to come and knock on your door,” an officer told Fox 13.

And, per the Pasadena Star-News, the Los Angeles County Probation Department has launched “Operation Halloween” to prevent sex offenders from decorating their homes and distributing candy.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

• Man who dressed 5-year-old son in Nazi Halloween costume says it was a ‘bad decision’

• 1st-grade teacher under investigation for ‘offensive and appalling’ blackface Halloween costume

• The Halloween Candy You Should Avoid—And What You Should Eat Instead

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