| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 8551 | 2008-10-30 | Troop L | How To Keep Youself and Your Child Safe from a Sex Offender or Child Predator During Halloween and In The Future |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP L- NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Date: October 30, 2008 How To Keep Yourself and Your Child Safe from a Sex Offender or Child Predator During Halloween and In The Future Halloween is a time of year when State Police wants parents to be extra cautious with their children. While preparing our little Trick or Treaters for the annual search for candy and fun, its time to reiterate the safety precautions in order to ensure that everyone has a safe and memorable Halloween. Parents should always accompany their children while Trick or Treating. If children are with other adults, parents should always know the routes that their children are taking. With the easy use and availability of cell phones, one should always be carried in the event of an emergency. Be very cautious of strangers. Stay in areas that are well lit, that you are familiar with, and only stop by houses that have the front porch light on. Never go inside a house to accept treats. The safety of our children is of our highest concern during this night of fun and laughter. We urge all of our adults and parents to visit the Louisiana State Police Website (www.LSP.org) and click on the link that says Sex Offender Registry. This will allow you to perform a search of any Tier 2 and Tier 3 sex offenders or child predators that may be residing in the area or neighborhood that you and your child may be visiting tomorrow. Tier 2 and Tier 3 Offenders consist of those with 25- year and lifetime registration requirements. This includes any person that has committed any offense against a child or any person that has committed aggravated assault against an adult. The Sex Offender Database will allow the user to search names, specific addresses and a radius based on zip codes. By using this database, it will identify homes with sex offenders living there. Under the new Louisiana Law, Tier 2 and Tier 3 sex offenders and child predators are prohibited from participating in the Halloween festivities or parties where children would be. If a Tier 2 or Tier 3 sex offender or child predator is participating in Halloween activities at a known address identified by the database, citizens need to contact the Louisiana State Police or their local sheriff’s department with specific identifying information. Please take the time to follow and discuss these few simple rules with your child, so that this Halloween will be a fun and safe event for everyone. Also under Louisiana Law, it is prohibited for a person convicted of or who pleads guilty to a sex offense, to wear any type of mask or disguise that would hide their identity. The law also prohibits a person convicted of or who pleads guilty to a sex offense from distributing candy or other gifts to persons under the age of eighteen on or concerning Halloween, Mardi Gras, Easter, Christmas or any other recognized holiday. For more information contact: S/T Louis Calato Public Affairs Unit Louisiana State Police – Troop L Office: (985) 893-6250 Louis.Calato@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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