Lake Charles –
Did you know according to statistics from the Department of Justice and Watch Systems LLC, an estimated 80% of all addresses have at least one sex offender within one mile? Sex offenders cross socio-economic boundaries, living in both the richest and poorest of neighborhoods.
So before your children Trick-or-Treat this Halloween, Sheriff Mancuso wants parents to have real-time access to sex offenders in your area. “We do our best to ensure sex offenders live where they tell us, but it is up to our citizens to utilize these online tools to see who the registered sex offenders are and where they are living,” says Sheriff Mancuso, “It is critical that you “Know Before You Go” this Halloween.”
Sheriff Mancuso advises parents to go to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office website at www.cpso.com and click on the Sex Offender Watch tab. Parents can quickly search for offenders in their area using this database. Simply enter your home address to view a printable map of your neighborhood and any offenders in the surrounding area. “If you aren’t planning on Trick-or-Treating in your own neighborhood, but will be in a different neighborhood, register that address beforehand so you know which houses to avoid,” says Sheriff Mancuso.
During actual trick-or-treating hours on Halloween Day, CPSO Sex Offender Unit and Warrants Division will be monitoring offenders, assuring they are adhering to the restrictions and requirements.