Whether you trick-or-treat in your own neighborhood or have a favorite spot to take your kiddos, it’s a good idea to know before you head out who they might encounter.
We’ve got a step-by-step breakdown of how to check for any sex offenders living in the area.
Sex offenders and predators who are registered with the state have specific rules about what they can and can’t do around Halloween, depending on what county they live in.
Nearly every county bans them from decorating their homes and many require them to keep their outside lights off on trick-or-treating nights.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has an app to help families track when sex offenders move into a neighborhood.
To download the free app, search “FDLE Mobile App” in the Google Play Store or “FDLE” in the Apple App Store. FDLE reminds users the app should never be used in an emergency.
As for those who are already living in the neighborhood? The FDLE’s Sexual Offender and Predator Database allows anyone to search where offenders might be living nearby by putting in their address and ZIP code and then selecting anywhere from a 1/4-mile to a 5-mile radius.
Here are the steps to search for nearby offenders:
- Go to the FDLE database (Click here).
- Type your address into the neighborhood search.
- Select the radius you wish to search in the drop-down window (1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 2 mile, 3 mile, 4 mile, 5 mile).
- Click the “Search” button to show results.
- If you click on an icon on the map, it will show a pop-up box with the name, address and picture of the offender or predator.
- You can also switch to a list view by clicking “Show List.” The list includes how far the offender or predator lives from the address you entered and a link to their FDLE flyer.
- The flyer includes descriptive information, and when/why the person was labeled a predator or offender. The flyers can be downloaded as PDFs and printed.
- The list view also offers a link to “track offender.” For more information on the Florida Offender Alert System and how to sign up, click here.
We’ve got a county-by-country breakdown of the rules for sex offenders and predators, along with some local events sponsored by or featuring local law enforcement agencies.
Duval County
The following is a list of laws that sexual offenders and sexual predators in Duval County must abide by:
- It is unlawful for any sexual offender or sexual predator to participate in any Halloween party or event if the event targets non-familial children.
- It is unlawful for any sexual offender or sexual predator to wear costumes, clothing, make-up, mask or anything that would alter a person’s appearance in the presence of any non-familial children.
- Any person designated a sexual offender or sexual predator shall avoid all Halloween-related contact with children.
- All outside residential lighting at a sexual offender’s or sexual predator’s residence must be off during the evening hours after 5 p.m. on Oct. 31.
No Halloween decorations can be visible from the exterior of any sexual offender’s or sexual predator’s residence from 6 a.m to 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 31. JSO encourages parents who are taking their children trick-or-treating to check for sexual offenders and sexual predators in their area and be aware.
You can search by address for sexual offenders and sexual predators in your area on the FDLE public search page (see instructions above).
St. Johns County
In St. Johns County, sex offenders are not permitted to participate in any holiday event, decorate their homes or dress up in costumes that would “attract, entice or lure children.”
Registered sexual offenders and predators are also banned from attending any holiday events geared toward children who are not in their families.
Sex offenders are also banned from having visible Halloween decorations from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Halloween. And all residential lighting must be turned off after 5 p.m. on Oct. 31 or any other day Halloween is celebrated.
Offenders also can’t display:
- Inflatables
- Holograms or projections
- Children’s characters or other interactive displays
- Decorations that line a pathway to a door
Any offender caught not following the ordinance in the county can face a fine of up to $500, up to 60 days in jail or both.
St. Johns County also has an option for parents to track when sex offenders move into an area. Parents can go to the SJSO Offender Watch page and put in addresses where they plan to trick-or-treat, or that they visit often or where their kids spend a lot of time, and then sign up for email alerts to be notified when sex offenders move into those areas. For more information, email spot@sjso.org.
For more on the St. Johns County rules, click here.
Nassau County
Sex offenders in Nassau County are not permitted to participate in any holiday event involving children, including distributing candy on Halloween or wearing costumes that might attract children.
Offenders must avoid all contact with children related to Halloween; must not place or allow any Halloween displays from their home; must turn off all exterior lights after 5 p.m. on Halloween; and cannot display any Halloween decorations.
Any offender caught not following the ordinance in the county can face a fine of up to $500, up to 60 days in jail or both.
For more on the Nassau County ordinance, click here.
The Sheriff’s Office is not hosting its annual Trunk or Treat event but will be participating in the Halloween Festival hosted by Nassau County Parks and Recreation.
The event is from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, at the Yulee Athletic Association on Goodbread Road.
The Sheriff’s Office will have one of its K-9s at the event, along with other personnel and will have a “special surprise.”
Clay County
In 2019, the Clay County Commission passed an updated ordinance that specifically prohibits offenders from participating in Halloween activities, including distributing candy to children or other items to children on Halloween or wearing costumes for the primary purpose of entertaining or attracting children.
The ordinance requires sexual offenders and predators to avoid all Halloween-related contact with children, turn off the exterior lights of their homes after 5 p.m. on Oct. 31 and not decorate their homes. Halloween events in which the sexual offender or sexual predator is the parent or guardian of the children involved, and no non-familial children are present, are exempted from the ordinance.
To read the full ordinance, click here.
Clay County deputies encourage parents to check the FDLE website (see info above) for a detailed list of offenders in their area.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office will host its annual Trunk-or-Treat from 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 30 at the Walmart at 899 Blanding Blvd.
Flagler County
In Flagler County, not all sex offenders are under restrictions for Halloween, but those who are cannot hand out candy, decorate for the holiday, leave their porch lights on during trick-or-treating or otherwise participate in Halloween.
These individuals must be in their homes by 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 and remain inside for the rest of the night, deputies said.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office urged parents to visit the FDLE database (see info above) to check for any sex offenders or predators that might live in their area or areas they plan to visit on Halloween.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is hosting its annual drive-thru Trunk-or-Treat event from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center.
Putnam County
Sex offenders and predators on probation are required to follow specific terms regarding holidays, which can vary by case. Those found to not be in compliance can be charged with violating their probation.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is hosting its fourth annual Trunk-or-Treat in Crescent City from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 on Prospect Street.
Alachua County
Alachua County does not have any special restrictions or ordinances in place regulating sex offenders or predators.
They are subject to state laws concerning the holiday.
Those still on probation are under specific guidelines regarding interacting with children, which vary by case.
Baker County
Sex offenders and/or predators living in Baker County are prohibited from distributing candy or ANY other items to children on Halloween, and their porch lights are to remain off throughout the night.
They are also not allowed to dress in any costume or outfit that could appeal to children, such as a clown costume.
Bradford County
In Bradford County, no local ordinance prevents offenders from participating in Halloween, but those still on probation are under specific guidelines regarding interacting with children, including not taking part in Halloween activities.
Because of strict city ordinances regarding sex offenders living in Starke, most offenders in Bradford County live in the county’s rural areas, where trick-or-treating is less common.
The free annual Great Pumpkin Escape event in downtown Starke will be from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, on Historic Call Street. There will be a pet costume contest at 5:30 p.m.
Columbia County
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office makes mandatory announcements on social media whenever a predator enters the county, and any childcare facility within a mile of where a predator lives is notified in person by a detective.
The Sheriff’s Office encourages parents to check the FDLE website (see info above) to find any predators or offenders in their neighborhoods and to sign up for alerts that will tell them if any move into the area.
The Sheriff’s Office also sends out a Halloween safety bulletin, which includes advice to trick-or-treat only in neighborhoods where the family is familiar with who lives in the area.
While Columbia County’s ordinance might not name Halloween specifically, predators do have to follow rules year-round about not enticing children to come to their homes.
Union County
Because of the county‘s regulations, sexual predators cannot move into Union County, but sex offenders can, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Sex offenders in the county are told to turn their lights off and not decorate their homes for Halloween.
The Sheriff’s Office suggested parents check their neighborhoods on the FDLE sex offender search page (see instructions above) and sign up for alerts through the Florida Offender Alert System, which notifies users when offenders move into a particular area.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in the Reception Medical Center (RMC) Prison event on Saturday, Oct. 26, and deputies will be passing out glow necklaces to help in seeing children wearing costumes at night.
Deputies will also have increased patrols out throughout the city of Lake Butler on Halloween from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 31 with blue lights activated and passing out glow necklaces throughout the community.