Virginia sex offenders to be closely monitored on Halloween night

Virginia Department of Corrections Director Harold Clarke has announced this year’s plans to monitor sex offenders under probation and parole supervision throughout the Commonwealth on Halloween night.

Through Operation Porch Lights Out, offenders are either required to remain at home with their lights out and not answer the door for trick-or-treaters or they are required to attend a meeting at a secure location during the evening hours when children are likely to be trick-or-treating.

Pursuant to the VADOC mission to enhance public safety, the Friday, Oct. 31 Porch Lights Out operation will closely monitor a high-risk population during a time when children could be vulnerable.

“Since 2001 this collaborative operation between local and state authorities has given families peace of mind with the knowledge that high-risk offenders are successfully managed while children are out trick-or-treating,” said Director Clarke.  “Our officers are to be commended for their quiet diligence in service to their communities on nights like this.”

This year, seven of the 43 Probation and Parole districts in the Commonwealth plan to hold mandatory meetings at secure locations while the remaining districts will require offenders to remain at home with their lights out, not answering the door for trick-or-treaters, according to a news release from the Department of Corrections.

To ensure offender compliance, VADOC Probation and Parole officers, State Police, and local law enforcement will make random home visits.  Those offenders attending organized meetings will be required to participate in educational sessions and drug and alcohol screening while law enforcement provides oversight of any existing warrants.  The Virginia State Police will verify and update each offender’s registration on the State Police Sex Offender Registry.

VADOC Community Corrections supervises more than 58,000 probationers and parolees across the state.  Of those, about 3,300 are sex offenders, the news release said.

More information on the VADOC can be found at http://www.vadoc.virginia.gov.