WASHINGTON -- Your little ghost or goblin will be safer trick-or-treating this year -- especially if they pay close attention to which houses they visit.
That's because of "Operation Porch Lights Out," an effort in several local counties that mandates registered sex offenders -- either on probation or parole -- keep their porch lights out and not hand out candy.
"I think it's a good thing," says Dale City resident Diane Nesmeyer. "The kids do stay away from the houses that don't have the porch light on."
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I understand and appreciate the thought and idea but, can they legally order someone to do this? If so, what's next? Like someone said, they probably not home anyway. They out and about mingling with the kids.
ReplyDeleteFRESNO, Calif. – A new California state audit found that over 1,000 sex offenders are living in homes licensed to provide foster and child care services.
ReplyDeleteThe startling information was uncovered after the audit was requested to investigate how Child Welfare Services handled child deaths in foster care homes.
The report found that California Department of Social Services failed to check the sex offender registry after recommendations and warnings from the state auditor three years ago.
“Both Social Services and county [Child Welfare Services] need to better ensure that these placements are safe,” the report said.
National Center for Youth Law senior attorney Bill Grimm thinks the failure of Child Welfare Services to use databases of sex offenders that the agency had access to is “reprehensible and inexcusable."
“How can you take a child out of their own home, their parents home, because you alleged they are unsafe or have been abused and then put them in a facility or a home where they are subject to risk and further abuse? It’s just inexcusable,” Grimm said.
But just turn your porch light off and it's all good?!
LMAO
So, if my light is NOT on - people will automatically assume that I am a registered sex offender ?
ReplyDelete9:29 I agree we are Christians who do not believe in the "holiday".My lights will be on maybe I will hand out bibles.
ReplyDeleteSo, if my light is NOT on - people will automatically assume that I am a registered sex offender ?
ReplyDeleteOctober 30, 2011 9:29 PM
Could be
In the county I live in Maryland, they do not inform the neighborhood a sex offender is living there, but yet on holloween, they require me to turn my lights out and post a sign NO CANDY on this day. We just bought a house here and the neighbors are friendly and have no clue as to registration requirments, but I guess after the 31st, they will know something when I mujst post this stupid sign on my door. I am a family man, married to a wonderful and understanding woman,own our own business and blend into the neighborhood as the family next door. BUT I GUESS THAT WILL ALL CHANGE AFTER TODAY.
ReplyDeleteThe requirement for lights out and a posted sign only applies to those still under supervision by parole and probation. Not all registered sex offenders have to do this. I guess the government thinks that people under supervision are more of a danger than those that have been released from supervision. More illogical thinking on the part of our politicians.
ReplyDeleteWhy aren't all offenders under supervision required to do this? Do we want our kids collecting candy from murderers, thieves, etc?
Hey at least when u go to the local drug dealers homes here you get FREE sample bags of the daily special drug of the day...BUT hey at least the sex offenders THAT r under P/P can't give out candy while the drug dealers can give out their samples...
ReplyDeletei thought this was a requirement in Wicomico County as well? maybe not necessarily to post a sign but to not participate in trick-or-treating. i really think that as recent as last year this that registered sex offenders were required to keep their houses dark...
ReplyDeleteits funny because for the past 4 years took our kid trick-or-treating in Avalon Park (just down Dagsboro Road from the State Police barracks) and there's a RSO that lives back there and they've had their lights on passing out candy every year. when i would let my son go up to that house and he asked why i said "because someone lives there who is not a very nice person" and left it at that. i think that some responsiblity lies on the parents to know about the neighborhood you take your children tonite.
and Mike F: i'm sorry that you made bad choices that earned you the designation of Registered Sex Offender. Those were YOUR choices and now you must live with the consequences. I don't know the details of your offense. i know that i check my local registry often because i like to know if someone such as yourself lives near me, or other people's homes that I frequent. I'm sure some of your neighbors do they same...
CATHY,
ReplyDeleteSO sad to read your comment as you are causing more harm than good allowing these warm fuzzy rules affect you and your child. It is not the ones you need to be afraid of , it is the thousands that you do not know about and have yet to been caught to include FAMILY members as they are likely to become the abuser of your child than a stranger..so WATCH your own people first and those not yet caught up on this so called warm fuzzy list.. AND DID you know in fact your child is more likely to be hit and killed by a drunk driver on halloween than attacked by a sex offender...
Who is going to tell Bill Clinton to turn his porch light off?
ReplyDeletei am more protective of my child than you think i might be. just because i teach him to love people, regardless of their color, nationality, sexual orientation, etc. there are many people in my family that won't let him associate with because they are people that i, quite frankly, don't want to be associated with. trust me that i'm just as worried about the offenders that have yet to be caught as i am about the ones are have.
ReplyDeletei'm a great mom, contrary to what most of you believe based on my posts. just because i'm more liberal than you doesn't mean i'm a bad mom. we all have opinions about things. i think i'm just one of the few liberal people who reads Joe's blog who isn't afraid to speak up (and use her real name).
i know ALOT of people who read this blog on a multiple-times-a-day basis who wouldn't dream of putting themselves out there with a comment no a post. alot of my friends like to read but won't post. they need to man up. there's nothing wrong with having an opinion.
i need to proof read... it seems as though i can't spell or talk right! LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm not a sex offender but I keep my light off because I don't want to be bothered with all this halloween nonsense.
ReplyDelete