No trick or treat for you: Halloween canceled for sex offenders in Allen Park

11-19-2009 Michigan:

Halloween will no longer be a treat for the 24 registered sex offenders in Allen Park: City Council this week unanimously approved an ordinance barring them from participating in activities traditionally associated with the holiday.

The News Herald reports registered offenders won't be allowed to distribute candy or even appear to be home between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. on the night the city observes Halloween.

“I will always err on the side of protecting children,” said Councilman James Flynn, who proposed the ordinance after a neighbor last year told him a local sex offender was handing out candy to kids on Halloween.

Macomb County already has a similar ordinance in place and the News Herald reports state and county authorities made 194 compliance checks this Halloween. ..Source.. Jonathan Oosting | MLive.com



ALLEN PARK: Sex offenders barred from Halloween festivities

11-17-2009 Michigan:

ALLEN PARK –– Registered sex offenders no longer will be able to participate in Halloween in the city.

After a third required public reading, the City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance outlining that restriction Nov. 10.

According to the resolution, those required to be registered under the state Sex Offenders Registration Act are prohibited from participating in any way in activities traditionally conducted during the evening of Halloween, including distributing candy or other items to children.

Offenders also are prohibited from leaving any exterior lights on at their residences or doing anything else that would convey the impression that a residence is occupied between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. during each Oct. 31 or during any other date and time designated as a period of observance of Halloween, the resolution says.

Councilman James Flynn has been working since Halloween 2008 on approval of the ordinance.

“I will always err on the side of protecting children,” he said.

The issue was brought to Flynn’s attention when a neighbor told him a registered sex offender on their block was passing out candy on Halloween.

A year ago today, Flynn proposed a resolution unanimously accepted by the council in support of state House Bill 5321 regarding sex offenders and Halloween restrictions.

On Sept. 15, he proposed the ordinance that is a copy of House Bill 5321, which died in a judiciary committee in December 2008. In September, the proposal’s first and second readings were unanimously approved.

At the council’s Nov. 10 meeting, Police Chief Dean Tamsen said his department can enforce the ordinance.

“I think it is a workable ordinance,” he said.

Councilman Tony Lalli said during the meeting that he wants the ordinance to work, but he does not believe it is enforceable.

“You can only watch so many houses,” he said.

Tamsen said police obviously cannot be everywhere, but he believes the department can enforce the restriction.

Macomb County has issued a similar ordinance, and this year parole agents from the Michigan Department of Corrections and Macomb County sheriff’s deputies made 194 compliance checks on Halloween.

State law requires all convicted sex offenders to be registered on a list per the Sex Offenders Registration Act.

According to that list, Allen Park has 24 registered sex offenders. Their residences range from Harlow Avenue near Outer Drive to Robinson near Pelham and to Champaign. ..Source.. Angie Favot