Keeping Kids Safe From Predators On Halloween

[big-daddy]

(CBS4 News) MIAMI All treats and no tricks. That's what Miami-Dade County Commissioners want for South Florida children as they unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday designed to protect kids from registered sexual offenders and predators while trick-or-treating on Halloween.

Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz proposed the new initiative that would keep predators away from children because experts say Halloween is a time of year when predators are on the prowl.

When kids receive candy door-to-door from strangers, it puts them at risk of being assaulted.

The new resolution, called "The Trick No Treat Initiative" calls for limited contact between children and registered sexual offenders and predators who are under the supervision of the Florida Department of Corrections.

In order to limit that contact, sexual predators and offenders will not be allowed to decorate their homes for Halloween. They will not be allowed to open their doors to trick-or-treaters or hand out any candy.

They will be required to turn off front porch lights during trick-or-treat hours, so kids won't knock on their doors.

They will not be allowed to go trick-or-treating with or without a child and they will not be allowed to attend a party where a child is present.

The initiative is designed to limit sexual offender and predator contact with children in order to increase the safety and well-being of the kids.

The key to this initiative is the colloboration between the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Florida Department of Corrections to insure that the sexual offenders and predators are notified of the new regulations, to make sure the new regulations are being enforced and to make arrests when necessary.

[bigscrub79]

Way to go Pepe!! That is an awesome idea.

[debatethis]

Good to see some effort being made. I however am for the 1 strike rule being implemented... mess with a child just once and we make sure you never get the chance again. A bullet is cheaper than prison and no amount of therapy can fix that kind of sickness.

[Loven It]

I thought this was in effect a few years back (maybe it was in just Pinellas County).

Its a great idea but who is really going to be enforcing and checking every sexual predator's house on Halloween night? That is a lot of people to monitor on one night. 

[debatethis]

That's why my idea works much better 

I understand that people make mistakes and many of those could end up in legal problems, but if it's a mistake of such magnitude and devastation as to rape or molest a child then they don't deserve a second chance.

[#13_LT-R450]

It sounds like a start!

[450rcrazy]

thats a great idea but nothing is better than the parents going door to door with their children,this would prevent predators who have not been cought yet.Another way is most mall's now have trick or treating available and some churches have what they call fall festivals or costume parties for kids.

[debatethis]

thats a great idea but nothing is better than the parents going door to door with their children,this would prevent predators who have not been cought yet.Another way is most mall's now have trick or treating available and some churches have what they call fall festivals or costume parties for kids.

Those are great suggestions. there are no substitutes for parental supervision.