Spring Break
Common Sense | Things that go bump in the night
By: Travis Holland
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: Opinion
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But there is a much darker side to the holiday that won't get as much publicity. Sex offenders - real life monsters - are also on the prowl. Halloween can be a parent's worst nightmare and a child molester's sick dream come true.
Halloween is an easy time for sex offenders to take advantage of children because of the situation surrounding the holiday's festivities. To deal with this situation, some cities and counties across the state have placed a closer watch or curfew on sex offenders on Halloween night.
Some have dictated times that sex offenders must be at home while others make them post "No Candy" signs and turn out their house lights. In almost every district, it is illegal for registered sex offenders to pass out candy or invite children into their homes.
These measures have been a good deterrent but need to be more extensive. In cities with these programs in place, a large number of arrests are made annually. This means that a there are sex offenders violating the measures designed to keep them away from children on Halloween. Something more needs to be done.
A few counties in South Carolina are examples of what can be done to ensure sex offenders aren't tempted to commit a crime on Halloween. Law enforcement officials make sex offenders who committed crimes against minors gather at designated areas on the evening of Oct. 31 to leave no doubt of their location.
During the mandatory meeting, the convicted child molesters receive rehabilitation and treatment.
A similar law should be passed in Texas. Society benefits because sex offenders aren't on the streets when children are most vulnerable and the detained offenders get help resolving the issues that caused them to break the law.
Having child molesters go to a predetermined location one night a year is not an unreasonable burden. They have committed a crime, and one night a year they should learn how to change the way they think.
Bringing this law to Texas would be a win for Texans on both sides of the law. One night a year, parents could be a little more comfortable about their children's safety and sex offenders could receive some much needed help.
- Travis Holland is a junior marketing major.
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