MOBILE, Ala. – With thousands of registered sex offenders living across Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, law enforcement agencies are reminding parents to take precautions as Halloween approaches.
Many agencies warn – and in some cases prohibit – registered sex offenders from taking part in Halloween activities involving children. But authorities cannot station an officer outside every offender’s home. In Alabama, it remains legal for a registered sex offender to participate in Halloween.
That leaves much of the responsibility with parents. A map of offenders within a 100-mile radius of Mobile shows a dense picture, and families are encouraged to check their own neighborhoods before heading out to trick-or-treat.
State sex offender registries in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi allow residents to search by name, address or neighborhood to see whether any offenders live nearby.
Law enforcement encourages parents to review the registries, plan trick-or-treat routes in advance and accompany children throughout the evening.