Lock-Em Up - Just In Case

-- by Dave Johnson

Fear.

How many TV shows in the last few years have been about pedophiles killing kids? Have you noticed the huge increase?

Meanwhile

Sex offenders locked down, in the dark for Halloween,Scores of sex offenders in Anderson, South Carolina, will be corralled for Halloween tonight in a move authorities say is needed to keep kids safe as they trick or treat.

. . . Authorities in Roanoke, Virginia, will do the same.

. . . While there's a debate about the need for restrictions and authorities aren't imposing such stringent restrictions everywhere, special limits on sex offenders for the evening are widespread.

. . . Paroled offenders in California have a 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, cannot leave any outside lights on and may not answer their doors except for law enforcement. Illinois offenders face similar restrictions, including a ban on dressing in a costume.

. . . Sheriff's deputies in Harris County, Texas, have been checking homes of sex offenders for Halloween decorations and are ready to arrest violators.

"There has not been a single case of any child being molested by a convicted sex offender while trick-or-treating," writes columnist Benjamin Radford on LiveScience.com.

Rebecca Brunger, an Alaska probation officer, told the Anchorage Daily News her state doesn't put any extra restrictions on sex offenders on Halloween as there's never been a case there of a trick-or-treater being molested by a registered offender.

. . . He said in 20 years he'd never run across a case of a sex offender attacking a child on Halloween.

Posted by Dave Johnson at November 1, 2007 7:23 AM