How Halloween applies to the Sex Offender Registry

In the days leading to the annual celebration of Halloween, the Oconee Sheriff’s Office has been getting questions—such as whether those on Sex Offender Registry may participate.  Sgt. Kelly Winchester, the sex offender registrar for the Sheriff’s Office, says there are no restrictions on those who are part of the registry—except those on probation.  “Probation requires them to stay at home from 5:30pm until 9pm on Halloween and Probation Officers will go out and check them,” says Winchester.  “There is nothing in the law that says that those on the Registry who are not on probation cannot hand out candy or nothing in the law that prevents them from taking their kids trick-or-treating if they have children staying or staying locked up in their house with no lights on for Halloween.  However, if they are on probation and they do those things, it can be considered a violation of their probation.”  Halloween this year takes places two weeks from tomorrow night, Saturday, October 31.