Halloween is right around the corner and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office wants parents to pay attention to where their kids are getting candy.In Iowa, sex offenders don’t have to identify themselves to trick-or-treaters or to parents on the holiday.”There’s no law that stops them from turning on their porch lights and passing out candy,” shared Lt. Ryan Evans with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.Polk County has about 892 registered sex offenders, of those, 97% of them are in compliance.”We’ve got two deputies that are assigned to the U.S. Marshal service task force, and their number one job is to deal with the sex offenders, make their in compliance,” Evans said.The sheriff’s office makes checks annually that all offenders are in compliance.Different crimes have landed offenders with different conditions – some sex offenders must check in with law enforcement quarterly while others only need to once a year. Either way, law enforcement says it’s a good idea for parents to take a look at the registry themselves.”It’s the parents’ job, they really need to go to that website, pull up that map and know that neighborhood,” he said.The lack of restrictions for sex offenders on the holiday comes as a surprise to some parents.”I had no idea,” shared Kallen Powell, a mother to an infant and a toddler.Kallen Powell shares she plans to take a closer look at her neighborhood before her family trick-or-treats this year.She also plans to educate her kids as they grow older on areas and individuals they should avoid.”Yes I feel like yes you can shield them to an extent but educating them as well, even if you’re out with them and standing on the road and letting them go up to the door on their own,” Powell said. “And talking to them about what’s appropriate conversations and what’s inappropriate and what to expect and if they feel uncomfortable to walk away.”Iowa Sex Offender Registry

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Halloween is right around the corner and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office wants parents to pay attention to where their kids are getting candy.

In Iowa, sex offenders don’t have to identify themselves to trick-or-treaters or to parents on the holiday.

“There’s no law that stops them from turning on their porch lights and passing out candy,” shared Lt. Ryan Evans with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Polk County has about 892 registered sex offenders, of those, 97% of them are in compliance.

“We’ve got two deputies that are assigned to the U.S. Marshal service task force, and their number one job is to deal with the sex offenders, make their in compliance,” Evans said.

The sheriff’s office makes checks annually that all offenders are in compliance.

Different crimes have landed offenders with different conditions – some sex offenders must check in with law enforcement quarterly while others only need to once a year.

Either way, law enforcement says it’s a good idea for parents to take a look at the registry themselves.

“It’s the parents’ job, they really need to go to that website, pull up that map and know that neighborhood,” he said.

The lack of restrictions for sex offenders on the holiday comes as a surprise to some parents.

“I had no idea,” shared Kallen Powell, a mother to an infant and a toddler.

Kallen Powell shares she plans to take a closer look at her neighborhood before her family trick-or-treats this year.

She also plans to educate her kids as they grow older on areas and individuals they should avoid.

“Yes I feel like yes you can shield them to an extent but educating them as well, even if you’re out with them and standing on the road and letting them go up to the door on their own,” Powell said. “And talking to them about what’s appropriate conversations and what’s inappropriate and what to expect and if they feel uncomfortable to walk away.”

Iowa Sex Offender Registry

https://www.kcci.com/article/law-enforcement-urge-parents-to-check-sex-offender-registry-ahead-of-halloween/38072196

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