Registered sex offenders could get a visit from the state Department of Corrections on Halloween night, as part of a program to keep young trick-or-treaters safe.
Last Friday, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Corrections and Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office announced a partnership to conduct “Knock and Talks” at the homes of registered sex offenders, as well as coordinated attempts to track down and serve warrants to offenders who have yet to register with the state.
Law enforcement will carry out the operations on Halloween, with the intention of establishing and maintaining increased oversight of offenders through the holiday.
Officers performing home checks will seek to confirm compliance with the state’s Halloween guidelines for registered sex offenders, which include remaining at their place of residence throughout trick-or-treating hours, refraining from holiday decorations,
Last Halloween, law enforcement conducted checks on 220 registered offenders, yielding nine total arrests for violations like possession of pornography, children’s items, holiday decorations and illegal narcotics.
The DOC’s Division of Community Corrections oversees more than 65,000 people on probation, parole or extended supervision, over 5,000 of which are registered sex offenders.
In a press release, the DOC announced that their “primary focus on Halloween is holding offenders accountable for their behavior and keeping the public safe.”
Wisconsinites can search for registered sex offenders by name, residence, or neighborhood through the state’s Sex Offender Registry website.
