Officers to visit sex offenders on Halloween

Tier Level 2 and 3 Nevada sex offenders can expect to get a visit from law enforcement on Halloween.

Dubbed "Operation Scarecrow II," officers from the Department of Public Safety, Parole and Probation and Investigation divisions are conducting a joint statewide operation to monitor Tier Level 2 and Tier Level 3 sex offenders on Oct. 31.

According to Kim Evans, DPS spokeswoman, this is the second year in which officers will visit the homes of known sex offenders and tell them to not answer the door or participate in any activities involving children, including handing out candy on Halloween.

Evans said if an offender decides to ignore the directive, they will be in violation of their parole or probation and could be arrested.

"The DPS Division of Parole and Probation is responsible for the monitoring of more than 770 Tier Level 2 and 3 sex offenders in the state. The condition of parole and/or probation for the majority of these offenders is not to have any contact with children. Halloween creates an obvious problem in that children participating in Halloween trick-or-treating may make contact with these offenders," Evans said.

From 5-9 p.m. officers will visit the homes of sex offenders from Las Vegas to Reno, Evans said.

Nevada Parole and Probation provides supervision to 17,474 offenders statewide.

In Carson City, Sheriff Kenny Furlong said he doesn't have the resources to visit the homes of all the city's sex offenders, and that's where the public can help.

"If a known Tier Level 2 or 3 sex offender has decorated their home for Halloween, please contact the sheriff's office and we will have a deputy make contact with that person right way," Furlong said. "We really want to get to those homes and prevent kids from going there."

Calls can be made to the Carson City Sheriff's Department non-emergency dispatch number at 887-2004.

Furlong also offered traditional advice for parents to pass along to their children prior to sending them out on Halloween night.

"If you have kids going out trick-or-treating without you, tell them to stay out of stranger's homes, trick-or-treat in groups and to not go off with someone they don't know," he said. "And any candy given to children, the parents should examine before the kids eat it."

Halloween is Tuesday.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.