11-3-2014 Wisconsin:
"Sex offenders watched on Halloween" was the headline in the Baraboo News Republic on Oct. 28. It would be more appropriate to say keep drunk drivers off the road. From 4 to 7 p.m. is about the time these drinkers are already drunk and driving to the taverns for more.
With all these kids running across the streets from house to house, the chances of getting run over far exceeds a sex predator snatching them up.
With headlines like sex crimes they are going to have parents so fearful that there wouldn’t even be a Halloween anymore. The newspaper says that there are 100 sex predators in the Baraboo area.
In the state of Wisconsin, there are 5,000 registered sex offenders in 72 counties, that’s an average of seven per county. For the Baraboo area, that means there must be one on every block. All this kind of publicity gives Baraboo a black eye and invites more crime into the area. If it is that bad in the Baraboo area, wouldn’t it be more cost effective to just put a little sign on the tree bark that says sex offender lives here instead of going door to door over the whole state?
How convenient this publicity is that it comes out just before the elections.
In the law enforcement community, this is called job security. Maybe it’s time for a new sheriff. ..Source.. by Ed Aylsworth, North Freedom
November 3, 2014
MAILBAG: Drunken drivers a greater Halloween threat
November 2, 2014
7-year-old girl hit by car in Vancouver on Halloween night dies at hospital
11-2-2014 Washington:
VANCOUVER, WA (KPTV) - A 7-year-old girl hit by a car while trick-or-treating in Vancouver on Halloween night has died.
Cadence Boyer and her mother, 32-year-old Annie Arnold, were among a group of trick-or-treaters hit on Northeast 112th Avenue at 8:15 p.m. Friday.
Police said Duane Abbott, 47, of Vancouver, drove his car over the curb and slammed into the group of people.
A 6-year-old girl who has not been identified also suffered critical injures, as did 30-year-old Chelina Alsten. Arnold has been treated and released from the hospital.
Cadence was in a coma and family friends told FOX 12 it didn't look like she would survive.
"Cadence was their little princess. She was born on 07/07/07. She's 7 years old. She's most likely not going to see 8," family friend Sean McNamee said Saturday. "She was the light of their life."
McNamee said Cadence died at 3:15 p.m. Sunday. A hospital spokesperson confirmed that she had passed away.
Abbott was also injured. Police said speed and impairment were both factors in the crash, but officers did not reveal any further details about the ongoing investigation.
Police said when he is released from the hospital, he is expected to be booked on four counts of vehicular assault. Officers initially said those charges could change depending on the condition of the victims.
There is an account set up for donations at Umpqua Bank under the name "Cadence Boyer," to help with medical expenses. A second fund for the Boyer family can be found here: gofundme.com/boyer1 ..Source.. by FOX 12 Staff
2-year-old hit and killed trick or treating in Lake Wales
UPDATE: Florida boy, 2, dressed as Captain America hit, killed by bus during first Halloween11-2-2014 Florida:
LAKE WALES, Fla.- (WTSP)- A 2-year-old boy was killed Friday night when he got out of his stroller and was struck by a vehicle while was trick or treating.
About 7:25 p.m., two adults and three children were trick-or-treating in neighborhoods along U.S. 27 and 1st Avenue North. David Heidler was pushing a stroller with his two kid and Angela Hoerl's grandchild, Dohntae Vasquez, in it.
The group was crossing U.S. 27 and upon reaching the grass median between the northbound and southbound lanes, Heidler realized he had dropped his cell phone. He stopped the stroller in the median, told the children to stay in it, and went back into the roadway to retrieve his phone.
He walked back over to the east shoulder where Angela was still standing. At that time, Dohntae Vasquez got out of the stroller and darted into the roadway to run back to the east shoulder where his grandmother and David were.
Dohntae was struck by a northbound 1990 white International bus being driven by Albertina Ramirez. The bus is owned by W.G. Roe and Sons Citrus Harvesting and was transporting a work crew home from Lake Placid after a day of work.
Ramirez immediately pulled over and the adults began to render aid to the boy while also calling 9-1-1. Vasquez was declared deceased on scene.
Northbound U.S. 27 was shut down in that area for approximately four hours.
Impairment and speed on the part of the driver do not appear to be a factor.This appears to be a terrible tragedy. Ramirez was unable to see the boy darting out in front of the bus and was unable to stop.
No charges are pending. ..Source.. by WINK News
November 1, 2014
89-Year-Old Grandmother Required To Post Sex Offender Sign
Laws are not supposed to result in absurd circumstances, such as here. Frequently when they do courts will declare them null and void or unconstitutional; hopefully this will fall like a dead bird.11-1-2014 Texas:
Police in Alvarado aren’t bending the rules for 89-year-old June Weeks, whose son is a registered sex offender. “I haven’t hurt anybody. I haven’t violated or done anything to anyone,” said Weeks.
Her home is her son’s official residence, thus Weeks must post a “sex offender warning” sign on her lawn this Halloween. And it doesn’t matter, that she’s home alone.
“It was the required thing to do. It was the law,” said Weeks about posting the sign. Her son is currently serving 30 days in jail for possession of marijuana.
Weeks’ granddaughters have expressed fears that the sign may attract trouble for their sweet grandmother.
“There’s a lot of hatred and animosity toward sex offenders, you just never know. There is a risk,” said Weeks. “That’s the reason it could be a dangerous situation.”
Alvarado Police Chief Brad Anderson said Weeks knew about the ordinance when she allowed her son to move in with her. But Week’s said her son was wrongfully convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
“It’s heartbreaking… it’s really heartbreaking,” she said.
Both mother and son are still paying the price almost two decades later, in Weeks’ eyes.
“What would you do if it was your children? Your child? And you knew he was innocent? He has no other place to go. This is his home. I am his mother,” she said. “When you love your children and your family, you take care of them.”
Anderson said they would have cited Weeks’ had she refused to post the sign. He added that a judge would likely dismiss the case though. Anderson is unaware of any crimes in Alvarado targeting sex offenders. ..Source.. by CBS Local.com
14-year-old boy struck, killed after trick-or-treating in Apopka
11-1-2014 California:
APOPKA -- A 14-year-old boy was killed by a car late Friday night when he was coming home from trick-or-treating in Orange County.
It happened around 11:30 p.m. at Roger Williams Road and US-441.
The driver of the car stayed at the scene and is cooperating with police.
Officers are withholding the teen’s name until they can notify the rest of his family. ..Source.. by MyNews13.com
Trick-or-treaters killed by speeding car
UPDATE: Man Accused of Hitting and Killing Three Trick-or-Treaters11-1-2014 California:
UPDATE: Police arrest 1 in California hit-run crash that killed 3 trick-or-treating girls
Update: Three teen girls killed in hit-and-run while trick-or-treating ID'd
Trick-or-treating took a tragic turn for three teens in Southern California. Two twin sisters and a friend, all 13-years-old, were hit by an SUV while on a crosswalk near an elementary school in Orange County just before 7:00 p.m. Friday. Authorities say they were thrown more than 100 feet.
"I'm really sad. I can't stop shaking ever since I heard it and I can't stop crying either," one girl said. "They said, 'Oh! Remember the twins?' And I said, 'Yes.' And then they said, 'They died today.' And I was like, 'No! I don't feel like going trick-or-treating anymore.' That's how come I'm so scared right now," said another.
All three were pronounced dead at the scene. According to witnesses, two men were in the Nissan Pathfinder that hit them. The vehicle was abandoned near the scene and police are still looking for the driver.
Halloween was a devastating night for others across the country as a result of car accidents. A family of four was hit while trick-or-treating in the Phoenix area. And others were injured in Washington state, Missouri and Illinois. Two others died in New York and Florida, including a 2-year-old boy. ..Source.. by AOL.com
Man Killed and Son in Critical Condition after Being Hit by Car While Trick-or-Treating in Irvine
11-1-2014 California:
Emergency services responded to a report of an injury traffic collision at West Yale Loop and Burwood Street involving a vehicle and two pedestrians at around 7:15 p.m.
A man was killed and his son critically injured after they were struck by a car while trick-or-treating in Irvine on Friday. Emergency services responded to a report of an injury traffic collision at West Yale Loop and Burwood Street involving a vehicle and two pedestrians at around 7:15 p.m.
Irvine Police officers and personnel from the Orange County Fire Authority responded to the incident, in which a 65-year-old man his 4-year-old male son, sustained significant injuries, according to a City Of Irvine press release.
A Mazda 3 driven by a female adult was travelling on West Yale Loop near Burwood Street when she collided with the pair as they crossed the street, according to investigators. She stopped at the scene and was not facing charges, police said.
They were taken to a local trauma center, but at approximately 8:40 p.m. the man, who is a resident of Irvine, was pronounced dead. The child remains in critical condition.
All traffic on West Yale Loop between Warner and Stone Creek North was shut down in both directions while the cause of the collision was investigated. ..Source.. by Michael Larkin
'Man Who Killed Halloween' remembered 40 years later
11-1-2014 Texas:
Ronald Clark O'Bryan charged with 8-year-old son's murder
DEER PARK, Texas - Trick-or-treating in Deer Park these days is exciting and fun for kids, like anywhere else, but what happened in one neighborhood 40 years ago struck pure fear in children and adults alike until recent years. "The feeling of helplessness was overwhelming," said Jesse Zesiger. "Seeing this boy, young boy with dry heaves."
Retired patrolman Jesse Zesiger was first at the scene to respond to a sick child at a home in the Parktown Townhomes.
Eight-year-old Timothy O'Bryan would die later that night, and within days his 30-year-old father, Ronald Clark O'Bryan, would be charged with his murder. He poisoned his own son with cyanide-laced Pixy Stix candy, all to collect on a $20,000 insurance policy.
O'Bryan became known as "Candy Man" and "the Man Who Killed Halloween" because many people in the Houston area were afraid to trick-or-treat for years later.
Zesiger said he's still troubled today by something Ronald O'Bryan told him that night, something that wasn't fully revealed during O'Bryan's murder trial. O'Bryan not only had poisoned his son's candy, he helped him ingest it.
"Dad said, 'I took the Pixy Stix in my hand and rolled it in my hand, broke up the clumps, and helped pour it down my son's throat,'" recalled Zesiger. "And later on when I found out what was in the Pixy Stix I'm saying to myself, 'How could somebody do that?'"
Zesiger -- a four-month rookie at the time -- served on Deer Park's police force for 27 years. But he said that early case jaded his sense of normal for at least the first decade of his career and still has impact.
"Since that time I've never been involved in any case more horrific than that," he said. O'Bryan maintained his innocence throughout his trial and until he died. A jury convicted him of murder and he was executed by lethal injection 10 years after his son's death. ..Source.. by Keith Garvin
Reports: 3 trick-or-treaters killed in California hit-and-run
11-1-2014 California:
SANTA ANA, CA (RNN) – Three teens were killed while trick-or-treating on Friday night, ABC 7 News reports.
A vehicle reportedly struck the girls while they were walking in a crosswalk. Witnesses reported to ABC 7 that three men jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot.
The crosswalk is located near an elementary school, the Associated Press is reporting. Police are trying to determine the identities of the girls and locate their parents, the report added. ..Source.. by WTVM.com
Police: Three-year-old killed in crash on Latta Road while trick-or-treating
11-1-2014 New York:
A young child has died after police say the child was hit and killed by vehicle while trick-or-treating on Latta Road. Police tell News10NBC two people were hit by the vehicle Friday night just before 10 p.m.
One of the victims, a 3-year-old, was pronounced dead. The other victim, a 16-year-old, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Witnesses say the two were trick-or-treating.
No word on what charges, if any, the driver involved in the crash may be facing. Police would not say if they believe drugs or alcohol were involved. ..Source.. by WHEC.com
October 30, 2014
Plaquemines placing sex offender signs on lawns for Halloween
This story needs to be told. This is insanity supported by the Police, who folks are supposed to believe will never lie to the public. The police are fully aware of the truth re: Sex offender research and Halloween; here we see them telling the public untruths so how can the public feel safe under those hired to protect and serve; police? ACLU where are you?10-30-2014 Louisiana:
NEW ORLEANS -- Are there sex offenders in your neighborhood? It is a question police want every parent to have the answer to before going trick or treating.
Halloween is a time for thrills and chills, but for parents it is not always the good kind. It is also when local police remind everyone of the work they are doing to keep sex offenders off the street and in their homes come Halloween night.
"It's not only protecting the children, it's protecting the sex offenders too," said Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office Commander Eric Becnel. "Sex offenders know they should not be out on their porch distributing candy or have their lights on."
Orleans Parish has 656 registered sex offenders and not far behind is Jefferson Parish with 633 offenders. So, when parents narrowed down the search to their street, the results were eye opening.
There are 64 registered sex offenders within two miles of Jade Adgate's Jefferson Parish home, which came as big shock to the mom-to-be.
Adgate and her family just moved to Jefferson Parish three weeks ago. She said until now she had not even thought about it.
"I see them on my street. That's awful, I had no idea!" says Adgate. "It's scary, you don't want that in your neighborhood without you knowing, so yeah I wish I had looked this up sooner."
Parents say they do have some peace of mind knowing police will have extra patrols out on the street and will be doing compliance checks at sex offender's homes, but Plaquemines Parish is taking it one step further by placing signs in every sex offender's yard.
"We have distributed nearly 3,000 letters to parents or guardians of children basically informing them of the signs we will be placing in the 43 registered sex offender's yards," says Becnel.
"It's great. They put the signs up, they keep the lights off and then we know that's not a good house," said one Plaquemines Parish mom.
The proud mom of three said she likes how much police keep her informed of the dangers lurking in her own backyard. She said she has even went to the sex offender registry and signed up to get the free alerts.
"There is just so much going on these days. You can't watch your kids 24 hours a day and it only takes a split second for something to happen."
It's just one more thing she and other parents can do make sure their kids have a fun, safe night.
Police say if you observe a sex offender participating in Halloween, call 911. ..Source.. by Jaclyn Kelley
Are Sex Offenders Unfairly Persecuted on Halloween?
10-30-2014 National:
On Halloween night, Andrew will celebrate the holiday the way most married fathers do: He and his wife will go trick-or-treating with their two kids, who are nine and 12; maybe afterward, they’ll head to their church to finish off the night with games and snacks.
But Andrew’s family isn’t like other families, because Andrew is a registered sex offender.
Sex offenders are the closest thing we have to real-life monsters on Halloween—and surely, few things can horrify a parent like the thought of his or her child being snatched up by a pervert while trick-or-treating. But there is no evidence that children are more likely to be abducted, assaulted, or abused on Halloween than on any other day. Crime data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System shows that there is no recorded spike in sex crimes before or after the holiday.
Even so, many states have adopted draconian measures to protect kids from stranger danger on Halloween. In Missouri, if you're on the sex-offender registry on October 31, you have to be in your house from 5 PM to 10:30 PM unless you have a really good reason; you also have to turn off your porch lights and put up a sign announcing "No candy or treats at this residence." Other states and local jurisdictions have similar restrictions that prohibit sex offenders from dressing up in costumes, decorating their homes, or driving after dark.
These regulations, which extend the reach of Megan’s Law—a nickname for a category of statutes that are designed to prevent child molesters from preying on the kids in their neighborhood—would be a great help if sex offenders were all fundamentally evil would-be rapists and killers. But most registered sex offenders are not convicted of violent crimes. The crimes that can make you a "sex offender" range from rape to sexting with a teen to—in some states—public urination. And it should be noted that even for more serious crimes, recidivism rates for sex offenders are extremely low—only about 5 percent commit another sex crime after being released from prison. In 2008 the Department of Justice concluded that “Megan’s Law showed no demonstrable effect in reducing sexual re-offenses." So why have these Halloween restrictions at all? ..Continued..Below Video.. by Arielle Pardes
Mom of Spartanburg teen killed trick-or-treating asks for caution this Halloween
10-30-2014 South Carolina:
SPARTANBURG, SC (FOX Carolina) - Erica Fields, 17, was hit by a car while collecting candy with her younger brother on Halloween in 2013.
Her mother Kalani Fields said she never wants any parent to go through what she did the night her daughter died.
Fields said Erica and her brother were with a larger group near Fernwood Drive when a car came towards them. Fields said Erica pushed her brother out of the way of the car before being struck.
"Infectious happiness," is how Fields described her daughter. "She was always happy. She loved her friends and her family."
Spartanburg police investigated the crash and closed the case without pressing charges against the driver. Fields said her faith led her to forgive the man that hit her daughter. And as Halloween approaches once again, she is asking for all those that plan to be out to be extra cautious.
"Be vigilant, be safe, trick-or-treat in the daytime hours," Fields said. "Drivers be vigilant, drive slower than the speed limit, there are children out there. I don't want to turn on the news and see that another family has gone through this."
Spartanburg police is reminding parents and drivers to stay safe on Halloween as well. Read their safety tips here. ..Source.. by Adrian Acosta
October 29, 2014
Three Ways Parents are Ruining Halloween
10-29-2014 National:
Facts don't stop fear.
Happy Halloween! It's that time of year when your neighbors are secretly unwrapping candy, brushing lollipops with poison, and inserting razor blades into Snickers bars!
Actually, while it may be a holiday tradition view your neighbors as psychopaths who patiently wait for the one day of the year to kill the local kids, in fact no child has ever been killed by a stranger's poisoned candy. Ever. But facts don't stop fear. Here are three ways in which our misguided terror on Halloween is killing all the fun.
Don't Go Outside
Parents are so scared of letting their kids roam free, that—no joke—there's a trend called "Trunk or Treat." Cars gather in a circle and kids go from one trunk to the next to grab candy, as if walking in a circle in a parking lot and collecting sugar is the whole point of the holiday. Sugar is important, but so is going outside on your own with your friends.
Some towns are so scared of the holiday that they've placed curfews on trick or treating. It's medieval. It's as if they really believe the ghouls come out at night.
It's Too Scary
There are schools, churches, and community centers sending home notes begging parents not to let their kids wear costumes that are "too scary," as if kids can't handle an eyeball oozing blood anymore. One town even made a guy take down the zombie decorations in his front yard because they were too realistic. In other words…they looked too much like real zombies?
Sex Offender Hysteria
In some towns, registered sex offender have to turn off the lights to keep the trick or treaters away, or all gather together at the local precinct like some twisted version of study hall. The rules are different in different places. But they're all based on the idea that sex offenders pounce on trick or treaters. Which turns out to be, like the poison candy story, completely false.
A recent study by a researcher now at Johns Hopkins University found that there is zero increase in child sex offenses on Halloween. In fact, the author Elizabeth Letourneau considered titling the study, "Halloween: The Safest Day of the Year," because it is, when it comes to sex crimes.
There is one thing to fear on Halloween: cars. More kids get hit by cars on Halloween than any other day for obvious reasons. There are more kids outside. So if we really wanted to make the holiday safer we'd take the cops checking up on sex offenders and put them on traffic patrol instead, slowing down drivers, or helping kids across. That could save some lives. Because cars are actually dangerous, unlike slightly torn Snickers bars. ..Source.. by Lenore Skenazy. Shot and edited by Jim Epstein. Graphics by Meredith Bragg
October 28, 2014
Halloween Facts 2014: 10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About All Hallows' Eve
10-28-2014 National:
Many people celebrate Halloween simply because it's fun. But that doesn't offer an explanation as to why children dress up in costumes and ask strangers for treats. Nor does it explain why orange and black are the holiday's reigning colors. Here are 10 spooky facts you need to know about Halloween before the holiday Friday:
- 1) Halloween was inspired by the Irish Celtic festival Samhain, which celebrates the end of the harvest season. The tradition spread to other parts of the world after the Irish fled their country following the potato famine.
- 2) Most people know orange and black are traditional Halloween colors, but might not know why. Orange represents the fall harvest and black represents the darkness associated with death of summer.
- 3) Trick-or-treating might have stemmed from the superstition ghosts could disguise themselves in human form and knock on doors to ask for money or food. If they were denied, the spirit could curse or haunt the person who refused.
- 4) Like many Halloween traditions, jack-o'-lanterns originated in Ireland. People used to place candles in hollowed-out turnips -- instead of pumpkins -- to keep away spirits and ghosts on Samhain.
- 5) Carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns comes from Celtic folklore. Tradition claims an intoxicated farmer named Jack tricked the devil, but paid the ultimate price when neither heaven nor hell would accept him. Since he was stuck in limbo, Jack created a lantern out of a turnip and a burned lump of coal the devil gave him from hell to guide his lost soul. People then carved jack-o'-lanterns with terrifying faces in hopes of scaring the evil spirits away.
- 6) Since it was thought the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead blurred on Oct. 31, which allowed the dead to walk among the living, humans would wear masks and costumes so the spirits would not recognize them.
- 7) Here’s how the broomstick became associated with witches: Elderly women who were accused of witchcraft were usually poor and could not afford horses, so they would use a walking stick, which was often replaced by a broom, to help them travel.
- 8) It was once believed black cats protected the powers of witches.
- 9) Harry Houdini (1874-1926), one of the most famous and mysterious magicians, died in 1926 on Halloween night after suffering from an appendicitis that occurred after he suffered three stomach punches.
- 10) Halloween has several different names: All Hallows’ Eve, Witches Night, Lamswool Snap-Apple Night, Samhaim and Summer’s End.
Freedom of Speech Squashed: Under the color of law?
This is a MUST MUST MUST read (3 musts no mistake). From With Justice for All (WJfA) blog; remember 3 MUSTS read! Definition of "Under Color of Law" by the U.S. Dep't of Justice10-28-2014 Indiana:
From WJfA Blog:
A little town in Indiana named Bedford did something this Halloween that I found particularly despicable. The past week or so I have been commenting fast and furiously, as often as possible, against the need to expend extra-ordinary efforts protecting trick-or-treaters against registrants and for the more-needed addition of traffic patrols Halloween evening and night. I was getting rather blase about it because the articles were much the same: for the town's or county's registered citizens, no decorations; no lights; no costumes; no handing out treats; no being on the streets; mandatory meetings.
Then this morning, this headline really caught my eye: "Police use creative video to warn community about sex offenders before Halloween." The opening paragraphs give the full picture--pun intended--better than I could paraphrase it:
- Halloween is just days away, and one central Indiana police department is getting the word out about local sex offenders.
- The Bedford Police Department made a Facebook video that shows the faces of the nearly 50 sex offenders living in the city.
My first thought was, "Well, crap. What if some kid sees his or her daddy or uncle or grandpa on there? Will there be any end to the grief for that child, to the harassment and bullying that will result from peers?"
My second thought was, "This is SO wrong." I started hunting for a way to post an objection. The article did not have a comment board attached. I found a Facebook page for the news outlet that posted the original article and dropped in this comment:
jump on over to With Justice for All blog, be ready for SHOCKING results...
October 26, 2014
Halloween & Sex Crime: Myth vs. Reality
In answer to readers question: What happened to eAdvocate's Blog about Holiday Restrictions? Honestly folks it got tiresome posting every Fear Mongering Lawmaker and other Official comments -none of which were supported by research- so this year I decided to post the following from Dr Jill Levenson. Enjoy the TRUTH supported by her Research! PS: The blog still exists but is posted privately.10-26-2014 National:
It is almost Halloween, and as we begin to feel a chill in the air in the northern hemisphere, we also feel the excitement of that annual ritual of trick or treating. But while children look forward to a night of ghouls, ghosts, goblins and goodies, parents ponder the presence of real-life demons in the neighborhood: registered sex offenders. States, municipalities, and parole departments have adopted policies banning known sex offenders from Halloween activities (or, in some jurisdictions, from even leaving their homes on Halloween), based on the concern that they pose an increased risk to children on this day. So, my colleagues and I (Chaffin, Levenson, Letourneau, & Stern, 2009) set out to test this assumption…
Using national incident-based reporting system (NIBRS) crime report data from 1997 through 2005, we examined 67,045 non-familial sex crimes against children age 12 and younger. Halloween rates were compared to expectations based on time, seasonality and weekday periodicity. There were no significant increases in sex crimes on or around Halloween, and Halloween incidents did not demonstrate unusual case characteristics. Findings did not vary in the years prior to and after these policies became popular. If these policies were to have an effect on overall Halloween victimization, we would expect that the rates of offenses on Halloween would show a greater decline over time relative to the rates for other days. In order to test whether there may have been greater reductions in sex offense rates on Halloween relative to other days over the nine-year span, a year-by-Halloween interaction term was added to the model. No statistically significant differences were found.
We then examined over 5 million crimes that took place in 30 states on or around Halloween in 2005. The most common types of crime on Halloween and adjacent days were theft (32%), destruction or vandalism of property (21%), assault (19%) and burglary (9%). Vandalism and property destruction accounted for a greater proportion of crime around Halloween compared to other days of the year (21% vs. 14% of all reports). Sex crimes of all types accounted for slightly over 1% of all Halloween crime. Non-familial sex crimes against children age 12 and under accounted for less than .2% (2 out of every thousand crimes) of all Halloween crime incidents.
Other risks to children are much more salient on Halloween. According to the Center for Disease Control, children ages 5 to 14 are four times more likely to be killed by a pedestrian/motor-vehicle accident on Halloween than on any other day of the year. These findings call into question the justification for diverting law enforcement resources away from more prevalent public safety concerns on Halloween.
The disregard for evidence when it comes to sex offender policies is not unique to Halloween. We know that copious resources are expended for registration and notification (SORN) systems in the U.S., despite nearly two dozen research studies suggesting that SORN policies are responsible for little, if any, appreciable decline in sex crime rates or sex offense recidivism (see, for example, Ackerman, Sacks, & Greenberg, 2012; Agan, 2011; Letourneau, Levenson, Bandyopadhyay, Sinha, & Armstrong, 2010; Prescott & Rockoff, 2011; Sandler, Freeman, & Socia, 2008; Tewksbury, Jennings, & Zgoba, 2012; Vasquez, Maddan, & Walker, 2008; Zgoba, Witt, Dalessandro, & Veysey, 2009). Many other studies have documented the unintended consequences of these laws, including stigmatization, marginalization, and seemingly insurmountable reintegration obstacles to stable housing and employment (Levenson & D'Amora, 2007; Mercado, Alvarez, & Levenson, 2008; Tewksbury & Mustaine, 2009). The impact of residential restrictions on housing availability, transience, and homelessness is well documented (Levenson, Ackerman, Socia, & Harris, 2014; Zandbergen & Hart, 2009), as is the lack of evidence indicating that residential proximity to schools and other child oriented venues is correlated with risk for sexual recidivism (Colombino, Mercado, Levenson, & Jeglic, 2011; Duwe, Donnay, & Tewksbury, 2008; Zandbergen, Levenson, & Hart, 2010).
Some scholars have opined that sex offender policies are designed to accomplish both instrumental and symbolic objectives, and that understanding both is essential in the continuing dialogue about SORN laws and prevention of sexual violence (Sample, Evans, & Anderson, 2011). Policy enactment can serve to inspire and reinforce social solidarity by uniting against a common enemy (Roots, 2004). Sex offender laws send a clear message that sexual victimization will not be tolerated and that politicians are willing to address public safety concerns (Sample, et al., 2011; Sample & Kadleck, 2008). Sample et al. (2011) speculated that symbolic policies might achieve instrumental effects over time -- perhaps measured by a wider range of outcomes beyond recidivism -- but that in the cost/benefit analysis, the symbolic expression of zero tolerance for sexual violence will always outweigh offender rights, fiscal considerations, and empirical testing.
But policy analysis requires a continuous process of evaluation that measures progress toward intended goals as well as unanticipated consequences that might prove contrary to the best interests of the community. Levenson and D'Amora (2007) asserted that ignoring evidence is similar to Hans Christian Andersen's story of the Emperor's New Clothes in which the king paraded around town nude, fooled into wearing invisible clothes that purportedly could be seen by only an enlightened few. Similarly, in the absence of compelling evidence indicating that these policies reduce sexual reoffending, attention should be paid to mounting proof of reintegration obstacles fostered by these laws.
Lest some critics suggest that by pointing out the limitations of these laws I am demonstrating a lack of concern for the safety of children, I'd argue that we are all on the same side. We all want to live in safer communities and I agree that public awareness generated by these laws has led to important dialogue about intolerance of sexual violence. But as tax-paying citizens, don't we also want our resources to be utilized in ways that are most likely to achieve the expected goals? And don't social scientists have an obligation to help inform strategies designed to enhance the public good?
Enactment of social policies should consider scientific evidence, and policies are most likely to be successful when they incorporate research findings into their development and implementation. A more reasoned approach (Tabachnick & Klein, 2011) to sex offender policies would utilize empirically derived risk assessment tools to create classification systems that target more aggressive monitoring and tighter restrictions toward those who pose the greatest threat to public safety. In this way, laws could more effectively identify and manage higher-risk offenders within a more cost-efficient allocation of resources. As well, the collateral consequences of community protection policies could be minimized and sex offenders could be better enabled to engage in a law-abiding and prosocial lifestyle. Most sex offenders will ultimately be returned to the community, and when they are, it behooves us to facilitate reintegrative strategies that rely on empirical research to inform community protection. In fact, the unintended consequences of these laws might undermine their very purpose. After all, when people have nothing to lose, they begin to behave accordingly. ..Source.. by Jill S. Levenson, Ph.D., LCSW
Associate Professor of Social Work on the site Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment
October 20, 2014
Sex offenders to spend Halloween in mandatory meeting
10-20-2014 Louisiana:
For the seventh year in a row, the Leesville District Probation and Parole Office will be holding a mandatory meeting on Friday, Oct. 31, for all convicted sex offenders residing in the areas of Vernon and Beauregard Parishes.
The event will be held at the West Louisiana Forestry Festival building, located at 276 H.M. Stevenson Blvd. in Leesville from 4:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., which is considered peak trick-or-treating hours.
The aim is to keep all sex offenders, especially those under the supervision of the local State Probation and Parole Office, from any contact with children on Halloween night, as well as update official records and inform the local sex offenders of any new and/or revised laws and to review compliance issues with them.
The offenders will be under close observation by officers with the Office of Probation and Parole, Leesville Police Department and deputies with the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office. Offenders will not be left unattended.
Only those sex offenders under supervision by the Leesville Probation and Parole Office who have a valid and verified reason for not attending the meeting (employment, medical, etc.) may be excused, but they still must not have any contact with children on that evening.
The event has been authorized by Leesville Probation and Parole District Administrator Sandra Ortego, Chief of Police Greg Hill and Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft. The meeting will be conducted by Supervisor and District Sex Offender Coordinator Paul Cryer and officers with Probation and Parole.
Attendance requirement at this mandatory meeting only applies to those sexual offenders who are under the supervision of State Probation and Parole; however, an invitation has been extended to sex offenders currently residing in the two-parish area who are not currently under formal mandated supervision at this time.
Those offenders currently not under supervision may benefit from attendance at the meeting in an effort to avoid accusations of misconduct during trick-or-treating hours and the ability to acquire updates on new laws and revisions.
Last year's meeting was extremely successful in terms of both attendance and review of compliance issues. ..Source.. by Staff Reports
October 16, 2014
Operation Safe Scare In Sebastian County
10-16-2014 Arkansas:
FORT SMITH (KFSM) – We are just days away from ghosts and goblins, and alls things scary roaming the streets and looking for treats. But to make sure your kids stay safe, deputies with the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office are hitting the pavement Wednesday (Oct.15) looking for real monsters.
Sixteen teams of deputies will be out on the streets checking where sex offenders live for the rest of the week. Their goal is to make sure kids stay safe when they’re out trick of treating this Halloween.
“We have so many kids that are vulnerable in this day of age,” said Captian Mike Conger. “There’s various things going on and we want to keep predators off the street.” Deputies with the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office keep a very close eye on where sex offenders are living and what they’re doing. They do that by performing compliance checks on them throughout the year.
“We usually do it during Halloween so we let the parents and everyone know that we do this to keep kids safe and not go to a house where an offender might be, ” according to Conger. Right now, there are 69 convicted sex offenders living in county limits so to make sure the deputies know who they are and which houses are theres an offender has to check in with deputies twice a year said Conger. ” They actually have to check into the office and do paper work and re-photograph whats going on,” said Conger.
With Halloween coming up, kids are going to be out going door to door asking that all too familiar question, trick- or- treat? But for law enforcement, it’s a little scary that kids aren’t always aware of which doorbells they should’nt be ringing. So to keep kids from knocking on those doors, they have the sex offenders put up a sign to let parents know.
“We have a bright pumpkin and it has a circle with a slash through it,” said Conger. Deputies said it’s also a good idea that parents get an idea of their trick- or- treat routes before hand. “What they need to do is go online to where ever their living and find out where an offender might be living in their area or close by,” said Conger. “Its just the responsiblity of adults to take care of their kids.”
Anyone can go to the Sebastian County online website and check to see if an offender lives near you.
Deputies with the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office will be doing the compliance check through Friday (Oct.17). If offenders don’t meet the compliance checks, authorities said a warrant is issued for their arrest and they go back to jail. ..Source.. by Meredith Marney
October 14, 2014
Halloween advisory issued for sex offenders
10-14-2014 South Carolina:
NEWBERRY — The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, along with the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, has issued an advisory that they will enforce a Halloween curfew for Newberry County registered sex offenders and offenders under its supervision for a sex-related offense.
“We want parents to know that there is an extra measure of protection when their children go trick-or-treating,” Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said.
Instead of going door to door, Foster recommends that parents as well as children think about going to organized events such as Trunk-or-Treat or a Halloween carnival.
Foster said in cooperation with SCDPPPS they will keep track of those listed as sex offenders and for other offenses from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 25 in Whitmire and on Halloween in the city of Newberry, Newberry County and Prosperity.
The curfews are statewide, the only exception being those offenders who are working or in transit to or from work. The curfew is used to ensure the public’s peace of mind and minimize unnecessary issues for offenders.
The curfews will be enforced using surveillance techniques throughout the county that will include sex offender residency verification and spot-checks.
Sex offenders will be notified that there must be no lights on inside or outside of their homes, no candy distribution, and no participation in Halloween parties or carnivals.
The release from the NCSO stated that registered offenders in some counties will have to report to a designated location for the duration of the curfew. Those affected will be notified by their probation or parole agents. ..Source.. by Elyssa Parnell
