Virginia authorities keeping an eye out for sex offenders on Halloween

TAZEWELL, VA (WVNS) — Trick-or-treating is a kids’ dream come true! Dressing in costumes, a sugar high, and spending the night with friends and family.

However, something much darker could be lurking in plain sight – sex offenders.

In West Virginia, there are currently no laws restricting sex offenders from handing out candy during Halloween. In Virginia, there are various rules and regulations offenders must follow.

According to the Virginia Department of Corrections, sex offenders are prohibited from participating in Halloween activities, including passing out candy. 

The Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office already has a plan set in place to patrol their communities.

“We go through and recheck and make sure that they are doing certain things, like not having their lights on their front door, or Halloween decorations up, making sure that there’s nothing that’s going to entice any kids to want to come up to their house and knock on the door,” said Lieutenant Landon Hieatt.

All sex offenders under supervision are instructed not to decorate their homes as well, as to not attract a wandering child. All probation and parole districts have established curfews for sex offenders on Halloween.

Lieutenant Hieatt said authorities will also have increased presence on Halloween.

“We will have extra guys out on Halloween night. We follow up on those houses, check them. If we do see something that is violating that rule, that they have their lights on, they have decorations or are out with candy, then we have to contact the probation office and let them know that they’re violated and then they’re charged for that,” said Hieatt.

Although West Virginia does not have rules against sex offenders passing out candy, the West Virginia’s Sex Offender Registry system does allow anyone to look up information about offenders. This includes their address, description, photo, what crime they were convicted of, and the age of the victim.