Whether you trick-or-treat in your own neighborhood or have a favorite spot to take your kiddos, it’s a good idea to know before you head out who they might encounter.
We’ve got a step-by-step breakdown of how to check for any sex offenders living in the area.
Sex offenders and predators who are registered with the state have specific rules about what they can and can’t do around Halloween, depending on what county they live in.
Nearly every county bans them from decorating their homes, and many require them to keep their outside lights off on trick-or-treating nights.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has an app to help families track when sex offenders move into a neighborhood.
To download the free app, search “FDLE Mobile App” in the Google Play Store or “FDLE” in the Apple App Store. FDLE reminds users that the app should never be used in an emergency.
But what about sex offenders or predators who are already living in the neighborhood?
The FDLE’s Sexual Offender and Predator Database allows anyone to search where offenders might be living nearby by putting in their address and ZIP code and then selecting anywhere from a 1/4-mile to a 5-mile radius.
Here are the steps to search for nearby offenders:
- Go to the FDLE database (Click here).
- Type your address into the neighborhood search.
- Select the radius you wish to search in the drop-down window (1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 2 mile, 3 mile, 4 mile, 5 mile).
- Click the “Search” button to show results.
- If you click on one of the house-shaped icons on the map, it will show a pop-up box with the name, address and picture of the offender or predator.
- You can also switch to a list view by clicking “Show List.” The list includes how far the offender or predator lives from the address you entered and a link to their FDLE flyer.
- The flyer includes descriptive information, and when/why the person was labeled a predator or offender. The flyers can be downloaded as PDFs and printed.
- The list view also offers a link to “track offender.” For more information on the Florida Offender Alert System and how to sign up, click here.