Illinois AG: Check Sex Offender Registry Before Trick-Or-Treating

Every year at Halloween, in the midst of all the fun, you'll see different warnings. You'll be cautioned to watch out for all the trick-or-treaters while you're driving, you'll be warned to watch out for all the cars while you're out walking the neighborhoods looking for candy, and it will be strongly suggested that you check the kids' candy for signs of tampering.

Yesterday, Illinois' Attorney General, Kwame Raoul, issued another type of warning that I honestly can't remember ever hearing before: Check Illinois' Sex Offender Registry Before You Plan Your Route For Trick-or-Treating.

My kids are grown-ups now, but I must confess that this never crossed my mind when they were little, probably because I was always out with them on Halloween night, and we were always part of a large group. That certainly doesn't mean Attorney General Raoul's warning isn't a valid one, because it is.

As Of October 1st, There Were Over 34,000 Registered Sex Offenders Listed On The Illinois Sex Offender Registry, And More Than 27,000 Of Them Committed A Crime Against A Minor

Those are some pretty sobering numbers to consider at any time of the year, but they're particularly concerning during a time when hundreds of thousands of Illinois kids are going to be knocking on doors all over their neighborhoods and beyond, and some of the kids will be all by themselves.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul:

With many families planning Halloween activities this week, I am encouraging parents, grandparents and guardians to keep their families safe by checking Illinois’ Sex Offender Registry before leaving home. While Illinois law prohibits child sex offenders from distributing candy, searching the registry is a quick step families can take before leaving home to ensure everyone has a happy and safe Halloween.

According to the Illinois Attorney General's website, Illinois law prohibits all sex offenders who committed a crime against a child from distributing candy, in addition to prohibiting them from participating in trick-or-treat events or other Halloween events involving children younger than 18.

Sex offenders on parole, mandatory supervised release and probation may have other conditions imposed upon them to protect the public. They may be prohibited from having their porch lights on and from leaving their homes, except for verified work purposes.

Here's How To Check To See The Status Of Sex Offenders On Your Street, Your Neighborhood, Or Your City/Town

The Illinois State Police provides an online listing of sex offenders required to register here in Illinois. Their database is updated daily and allows searching by name, date of birth, city, county, zip code, compliance status, or any combination of those.

Click here to be taken to the Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry.