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Monitoring Sex Offenders On Halloween

Monitoring Sex Offenders On Halloween

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&idp83668

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A special visit from Houston police officers as they
go door-to-door, looking for potential problems that could put
children at risk. It's all part of a special patrol ahead of Halloween
night.

The program targets sex offenders still on probation or parole. All
are required to register and all should expect a knock from police
sometime this week.

As Halloween night nears, Sgt. Glenn Shepherd and Officer Willie West
pick up the pace. As part of HPD's Juvenile Sex Offender Registration
Unit, they are checking the homes of registered sex offenders on
probation and parole.

As everyone else displays their holiday spirit, for someone like
Timothy Carson, convicted twice of aggravated sexual assault of a
child, it's a big no-no.


"They are not to have any decorations up at all. Period. No welcome
sign and they cannot have the light on," said Sgt. Shepherd.

First stop is a home on Webster in southeast Houston. After a couple
of knocks, a mother comes to the door, followed by sex offender Ron
Finley. He has his ID, his registration card and nothing that would
lure children. He's in compliance.

But not every sex offender they are looking for is home. Sgt. Shepherd
tries to verify the address with apartment managers or landlords and
will request that a patrol unit follow up.

Even if there are no ghosts or pumpkins, there can be other red flags.

"This is kind of a problem. That's a whole lot of mail," said Sgt.
Shepherd.

Even with a big bold sign on his door, Sgt. Shepherd is now concerned
Robert Ivy may have moved, which would be a violation.

"It's a red flag saying we should check back on this guy," said Sgt.
Shepherd.

Their ultimate goal is to keep track of sex offenders, protecting
children from them and as Sgt. Shepherd explains, especially around
the holidays, even protecting them from themselves.

"A lot of times this is a crime of opportunity. Just take that
opportunity away," Sgt. Shepherd said.

There are roughly 4,000 registered sex offenders in the city of
Houston and not all are still on probation or parole. However, there
are only ten officers assigned to the registration unit so patrol
officers on the street often help out.

There is a set of guidelines for sex offenders on Halloween. Sex
offenders are not allowed to hand out candy or even be at a home where
candy is being handed out. They are not allowed to decorate for
Halloween or do anything else that could be interpreted as luring
children.

Sex offenders also must turn porch lights off and not answer the door
unless instructed to do so by police.

If sex offenders do violate any of the Halloween participation rules,
they could have their parole or probation revoked.

To find out if there are any sex offenders in your neighborhood, click
on this link

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=resources&idW78722

where you can search a database of registered sex offenders.

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