Halloween is coming soon, and that means planning for trick-or-treating is underway. While it is fun to see the excitement on the faces of children, it is also important to know which houses children should avoid when out and about in neighborhoods. Each local Sheriff’s Office is charged with maintaining an offender registry, and this resource is available to the public.
In Hamilton County, there are 126 subjects listed on the Sex Offender Registry, with another 67 offenders who travel to the county for work. The Sheriff’s Office wants you to know where these offenders reside so those locations can be avoided during the trick-or-treat festivities.
The public can visit the Offender Watch website at this link to map locations where offenders live and work. The mapping feature pinpoints the exact address of the offender’s residence or work so those places can be avoided if desired. Offender and crime information is also available on the Crime Reports website at crimereports.com/agency/HamiltonCoIN.
The Offender Watch website also allows the ability to sign up for free automatic email notifications if an offender moves within a specified radius of any registered address. Local residents can use this feature to be notified if a registered offender moves into the neighborhood.
Both the mapping and notification features can also be used to locate offenders near other addresses where children spend time – babysitters, friends, family members and more. The alerts are real-time and sent via email as soon as an offender registers with the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies regularly check to make sure those entered on the registry abide by the terms of their sentences, including updating where they live and work. The Sheriff’s Office does not require offenders to attend a special meeting on Halloween but encourages area residents to use their due diligence when celebrating.
In addition to using the Offender Watch resource, other safety tips include:
- Accompany children, especially those under the age of 12, during trick-or-treating.
- Make sure costumes are visible and don’t limit visibility.
- Carry a flashlight, glow stick, or other illumination.
- Make sure children never enter homes without your permission.
- Encourage “See something, say something” if any suspicious activity is noticed.
- Don’t let children eat treats before an adult has time to inspect them.
- Consider safer alternatives such as parties, trunk-or-treats, or other community events.