Operation Halloween to keep sex offenders off streets this weekend

Monday, October 25, 2021

For the fifth year in a row, the Putnam County Adult Probation Department’s Operation Halloween will keep registered sex offenders off the streets during trick-or-treating in Putnam County.

Operation Halloween requires all convicted and registered sex offenders under probationary supervision who have no-contact orders with children to participate in the program.

Assistant Chief Probation Officer Garret Nichols first became aware of such programs in 2016 while researching probation supervision techniques for sex offenders.

“The program was just one example of the type of proactive supervision our department needed to help keep Putnam County communities safer,” Nichols said. “Our field officers conduct compliance checks routinely and often produce positive results, but Operation Halloween is critically important as it has as its goal the protection of one of our most valuable assets, our children.

“Our goal is simple — to keep Halloween safe for families and young children.”

As part of the operation, all sex offenders must adhere to a special curfew and restrictions. Any exception to participation due to employment or community-based programs must be preapproved by the Probation Field Unit. Otherwise, they shall remain at home.

On Saturday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. or after arriving home from work or the completion of a community-based program, all sex offenders are required to remain in their residences until 6 a.m. the following morning. Offenders in the program are required to keep outside lights turned off and are not allowed to display Halloween decorations, open doors, distribute candy, wear any costume, mask or other disguises or partake in the act of trick-or-treating.

“Since the beginning of October, our department has been contacting all the sex offenders to reinforce these restrictions,” Nichols said. “Home visits have begun and will continue up through the weekend of Halloween to look for any evidence that a sex offender is in possession of any restricted items or any items such as weapons, illegal drugs or child pornography.”

During the evening, probation field officers will make unannounced home visits and compliance checks.

Since implementing the program, Nichols has been pleased with he results.

“I really do mean it when I say, as far as highlights, our program is nothing short of a success story as seen by the lack of any serious violations,” Nichols said. “When a violation can easily translate to there being a victim, now or in the future, I take this as noteworthy.”

Halloween-related restrictions for convicted registered sex offenders placed on probation by both Putnam Circuit Court and Putnam Superior Court are determined by the Adult Probation Department.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: