Wisconsin checks sex offenders' homes during Halloween trick-or-treat

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 14:02 · Archive

Wisconsin probation and parole agents conduct unannounced home visits on registered sex offenders during trick-or-treat hours.

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections is partnering with local law enforcement to conduct unannounced home visits on registered sex offenders during Halloween trick-or-treat hours. The initiative aims to ensure families feel safe while trick-or-treating. Grace Knutson, director of sex offender programs for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, said: 'We want to make sure that all families have the opportunity to feel safe as they're going door to door, maybe to houses that they don't know who lives there.'

Registered sex offenders on probation or parole face strict Halloween restrictions. They are barred from handing out candy, displaying indoor or outdoor decorations, participating in trick-or-treat activities, and must keep their porch lights off. Knutson explained: 'They also cannot have their house appear as though they are participating in that trick-or-treating. They cannot have their porch lights on. They can't have Halloween decorations. They obviously can't dress in costume.'

Last Halloween, agents made more than 2,300 unannounced visits across Wisconsin, including nearly 400 in northeast Wisconsin and over 280 combined in Brown and Winnebago counties. About 6,000 registered sex offenders statewide must comply with the rules. According to Knutson, violations can result in offenders being ordered to report to their office the following business day or being taken into custody. The Department of Corrections conducts similar checks year-round, not just on Halloween. Families can search the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry online to check their neighbourhood, and suspected violations can be reported to local law enforcement or to a state hotline.

How it is being reported

• Wisconsin DOC, police partner to monitor sex offenders on HalloweenThe Wisconsin Department of Corrections is teaming up with local law enforcement across the state to monitor registered sex offenders on probation or parole during trick-or-treating this Halloween.WSAW · 27 Oct, 13:19
• Wisconsin DOC agents check on sex offenders during trick-or-treat hoursAs children go trick-or-treating, Wisconsin probation and parole agents are checking on registered sex offenders under supervision.WBAY · 26 Oct, 23:40

In this story: Wisconsin Department of Corrections · Grace Knutson · Wisconsin · Brown County · Winnebago County

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log