The Webb County Community Supervision and Corrections Department is spending Halloween night rounding up sex offenders on probation. It's part of an effort that began last year, all to help keep children safe. Our Annette Garcia has the details.
"It doesn't take long to find tiny trick-or-treaters on Halloween night in Laredo--all going door to door looking for candy. But what authorities don't want them to find are sex offenders. 'We have over 40 defendants on probation both men and women for sex offenses.' Those on probation for sexual offenses finding themselves at the Webb County Justice Center for the second year in a row tonight, all ordered to sit in a room from 6 to 10 this evening. The goal: keep them away from children. 'That's the main reason why we do this.' Sex offenders are not allowed to decorate their homes nor give out candy. Some are even court ordered to place a warning sign in front of their residence. But officials say not all offenders are required to take part in the round-up. 'Some of them are transferred in from other states; some are on parole those we do not supervise.' And that, she says, is where the community steps in. 'I know there's only a little forty that we can supervise, but I want to express to the community that they need to check the website; see where the registered sex offender lives, make sure to not go to that home.' Annette Garcia, Pro 8 News.
The D.P.S. sex offender registry's website is www.records.txdps.state/sexoffenderregistry.com. You can search by county, zip code, or even street address. Meanwhile, county officials say any offender on probation who did not show up tonight may face consequences--possibly even prison time.