VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Volusia County deputies have door-to-door plans of their own for Halloween: checking on sexual predators to make sure they’re following the rules when it comes to certain holiday traditions.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said detectives from the Career Criminal Unit and officers from the Florida Department of Corrections will conduct checks on Halloween and verify the probation status of sexual predators and sexual offenders.
READ: Portions of Orange Avenue to shut down on Halloween to allow for outside drinking
Officials said they will be enforcing the following probation conditions offenders must follow, according to state law:
- The sexual predator/offender may not participate in the holiday celebration by having lights on or decorations that attract or lure children to the home.
- The sexual predator/offender may not participate in the holiday celebration by wearing a costume.
- The sexual predator/offender may not participate in the holiday celebration by giving or handing out candy or toys.
READ: Orange County Sheriff’s Office to host ‘Trunk-or-Treat’ event Thursday evening
But deputies said sexual offenders and sexual predators who are not currently on probation, conditional release or house arrest may participate in the Halloween festivities under state law.
Deputies are encouraging families participating in trick-or-treating to research their neighborhoods to find out where sexual predators or offenders live and to plan accordingly.
Click here to find out how to find that information for Volusia County.