THOMAS COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - Locating and registering sex offenders is a top priority for Georgia sheriffs.
The Thomas County Sheriff's Office says they verify registered sex offenders multiple times throughout the year, as part of the Operation Watchful Eye initiative.
Lieutenant Tim Watkins with the Thomas County Sheriff's Office says Halloween is one of those holidays that they make sure all registered sex offenders in the county are where they're suppose to be, which is in their house.
Watkins says this will deter kids from walking up to the sex offenders house, keeping any contact at a minimum.
He also says there are 166 registered sex offenders in the county, and they'll go to each residence to make sure they aren't in violation.
"We'll get with community supervision, and we will develop the teams, depending on what they're requesting from the sheriff's office," said Watkins.
Deputies have been able to locate and register each sex offender through the Operation Watchful Eye initiative.
They make house visits to each known registered sex offender in the area.
