Sex offenders can not give out candy or have their outdoor lights on during Halloween in the state of South Carolina. Officials will be enforcing the law by making home visits and phone calls, just as they have in the past. Last year, agents checked more than 350 homes and made more than 150 phone calls.
Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services spokesman Pete O'Boyle said the requirement to stay inside runs from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. statewide on Oct. 31.
--WPDE
It is also a good idea to check the sex offender registry before taking your children trick or treating around neighborhoods. Even though you might live in a nice area, you might be surprised at who is living among your family and friends. Also, people are transient so even if you've checked these sites in the past, it's always a good idea to check again.
You can find the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, SLED, sex offender registry here:
http://scor.sled.sc.gov/ConditionsOfUse.Aspx
Here is a website run by Criminal Watch Dog that shows a map of sex offenders in your area:
You can also choose not to take your children door to door and instead attend an event hosted by your church or trusted business.
We are hosting a trunk or treat here at the radio station parking lot, 181 E Evans St, Florence, SC 29506 on Wednesday October 30th from 4p-6pm. It's free to attend and we hope to see you there!