JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — No candy, lights or decorations this Halloween; at least not for sex offenders under felony supervision.
Florida state law prohibits sex offenders under supervision from participating in Halloween activities.
They are not allowed to give out candy or other treats. They must turn off porch lights and close their blinds. They are also not allowed to have outside decorations that could attract children. If a trick-or-treater comes to their door, they are not allowed to answer. Also, they are not allowed to dress in costume or masks and cannot attend Halloween parties where children will be present.
Those are just the state laws. Some counties, like St. Johns and Duval, have their own ordinances, which add further restrictions.
In St. Johns County, sex offenders and predators are prohibited from the above activities, regardless of whether they are on probation.
In addition, they also must notify neighbors they do not participate in Halloween.
"These individuals have to place a sign outside of their residence," said Chuck Mulligan, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office spokesperson. "Some put it in the yard, some on the front door. It basically states there's no trick-or-treating or candy here."
Mulligan said the signs do not have to be posted until 5 p.m. on Halloween.
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Thursday Action News used the online Offender Watch and learned there are 13 offenders in a 2-mile radius of the Sheriff's Office. Action News went to many of those houses and there were no decorations in the yards.
At one home an offender agreed to speak with Action News about the rules, as long as his identity was concealed.
"You can't put out anything to draw kids to the house," he said. "But I don't do that anyway." Mulligan said most offenders follow the law.
"We've never encountered the issue where we had to file charges, as of yet," Mulligan said.
For the McKissick family, the rules offer peace of mind.
"I think it is important," said mother April McKissick. "Because you never know, if your kids go up to the house they could easily snatch them."
Deputies warn even if you map out the offenders in your neighborhood, you should still be on alert.
"Be aware of the individuals we're not aware of," Mulligan said. "Don't be paranoid, but be aware of your surroundings."
He urges any parent with a concern to call the Sheriff's Office or their local law enforcement agency, so a professional can determine if there is an issue.
"Let us know," he said. "It may be nothing, may be completely justifiable, but we'd like to know about it so we can identify individuals as quickly as possible. If there is nothing, there is no harm."
The following are the Florida Department of Corrections rules for sex offenders to follow on Halloween:
- Do not give out candy or other treats.
- Turn off porch lights, close blinds.
- No outside decorations to attract children.
- Do not answer the door to trick-or-treaters.
- Do not dress in costume or masks.
- Do not attend Halloween parties where children will be present.