IN- On Halloween, state requires sex offenders to attend a meeting

10-25-2008 Indiana:

State requires parolees to attend an evening meeting, keeping them away from trick-or-treating children

Paroled sex offenders around Indiana will be required to attend Halloween evening meetings to help keep them away from trick-or-treating children.

Those meetings began in Indianapolis in 2004 and have worked so well that the Operation Safe Halloween program is expanding next week to the entire state parole system.

"The big factors are to remove them from temptation and so parents don't send their children to their homes," said Randy Koester, deputy commissioner of administration of the Indiana Department of Correction.

Marion County sex offenders have been called to the Oct. 31 meeting, to be held at an undisclosed location. Similar meetings will be held in the other state parole districts. The meetings are scheduled during the hours when children are most likely to be out trick-or-treating.

There are 151 paroled sex offenders in Marion County and 831 paroled sex offenders statewide, according to Koester. Conditions of parole typically require convicted sex offenders to stay away from their victims and from children.

At the meetings, parolees will receive information about how to get further treatment for sex problems and the best way to stay on good status with their parole officers.

In some areas of the state where parole districts cover several counties and sex offenders would have to travel long distances for a meeting, the parolees will be required to stay inside their residences with the lights off and to place a sign outside telling trick-or-treaters to stay away, Koester said.

Parolees who don't attend a meeting could have their parole revoked.

All convicted sex offenders must register with the county sheriff where they live.
..News Source.. by Kevin O'Neal