Sex offenders no longer required to post warning signs on Halloween
By Jenna Wilson
Sex offenders in the state of Missouri are no longer required to place “no candy” warning signs outside of their doors this Halloween, drawing some concern from local families.
For years, under Missouri law, registered sex offenders were required to post a sign to their homes reading, “No candy or treats at this residence” on Halloween night, but a federal judge recently ruled this portion of the law as unconstitutional.
For some area parents, the revision of this law comes with setbacks and is concerning for the safety of young kids.
“A lot of kids go by themselves or with friends and if parents aren’t there to pay attention, that could be scary,” said St. Joseph resident Erica Fark. “It’s just the world we live in, you have to be more cautious and having that extra layer of protection was really nice.”
Fark said her children will be opting out of trick-or-treating this year, and she’d prefer for them to get their candy from school events.
Despite the concern this law has brought to some parents in the state of Missouri, registered sex offenders are still required to:
Avoid all Halloween-related contact with children
Remain inside their residence between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. unless required to be elsewhere for just cause, including but not limited to employment or medical emergencies
Leave all outside residential lighting off during the evening hours after 5 p.m.
According to Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett, the sheriff’s office will still be conducting Halloween checks of all Buchanan County registered sex offenders as normal and will take enforcement action for any violations observed.
“Sometimes we check once and sometimes we go back and check a second time if we suspect anything concerning,” said Puett. “We will be checking all the appropriate areas on Halloween and making sure we keep Buchanan County safe.”
Residents can find a map of locations where registered sex offenders are located in Buchanan County by visiting https://www.mshp.dps.mo.gov/CJ38/searchRegistry.jsp
