UT- Sex offenders ordered to shun trick-or-treaters

10-29-2008 Utah:

At some homes in Utah, no one will answer the door for trick-or-treaters.
That's because the Utah Department of Corrections has told them not to.

State corrections officials have ordered all convicted sex offenders currently on probation to go out of their way to avoid contact with children this Halloween.

"All sex offenders under supervision have some restrictions every night of the year," said Angie Welling, a spokeswoman for the Utah Department of Corrections. "Halloween is a more high profile event and we want to protect youngsters in the community."

Corrections officials have asked sex offenders currently being supervised by Adult Probation and Parole to be in one of three places by the time night falls on Halloween.

"One is be at home. If they're at home, not to answer the door for trick or treaters," Welling said Tuesday. "The second place would be at work. The third is if they're a resident of our community correctional centers, nightfall is their curfew."

Adult Probation and Parole agents will also be out on Halloween checking up on some sex offenders. Welling said they have restrictions on sex offenders every day of the year, but the restrictions on Halloween is an extra layer of protection for offenders and the public alike.

Welling was unaware of such restrictions being imposed in years past.
Other states have imposed similar restrictions, with some controversy. A federal judge in St. Louis recently struck down a Missouri law that restricted some activities of convicted sex offenders, like forcing them to stay inside their homes.

They still must keep their lights off and hang signs saying they have no candy.

In Idaho, corrections officials have ordered convicted sex offenders to keep their porch lights off and they have been prohibited from displaying pumpkins or any other type of Halloween decoration. In Arizona, authorities will be patrolling past the homes of offenders to ensure they are not opening their doors to trick-or-treaters. ..News Source.. by Ben Winslow