TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The costumes are bought and the candy is ready, but there's one more Halloween step you might be forgetting: checking the sex offender registry.
Robert Moon helps manage the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's sex offender registry. The registry compiles data from state entities and local sheriff's offices. The registry's online website shows who's on the list, where they live and what they're charged with.
"Everybody on the website has committed a felony or they've committed a crime in another jurisdiction that would equate to a felony here in Florida," said Moon.
The website shows sex offenders, predators and if multiple offenders live at one location.
"A predator has been convicted, often it's been of multiple crimes or a capital felony or life conviction of certain offenses to qualify to be a predator," said Moon.
The registry is easy to find, but how many people actually check it? We spoke with dozens of parents in different Tallahassee neighborhoods and nearly everyone said they had no idea a sex offender was living nearby. Parents say one way they try to keep their kids safe is by going along when they trick-or-treat.
"It's always helpful to know who's around you and where you're taking your kids, especially when you're letting them go up to houses and ring doorbells," said Moon. "Our site is one way that parents can get some information to have an idea of who's in the neighborhood."
FDLE officials are now working on creating a smartphone app for the registry. They hope to release it within the next year.
You can search Florida's online registry here, Georgia's online registry here, or any state's online registry here.
