Convicted sex offenders in Elgin may find red tags on their doors this Halloween, a message from police that they’re being monitored and a not-so-subtle warning for trick-or-treaters to stay away.
In a move that underscores the intent of a new state law prohibiting sex offenders on parole or probation from handing out candy at Halloween, Elgin police will visit the homes of about 120 offenders who live in the city.
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If no one answers the door, the property will be tagged, a “visible sign that police have been to the house,” said Sgt. Bill Wolf, who coordinates the checks for the Elgin Police Department.
Law enforcement officials weren’t aware of any other community in the state taking a similar approach. But police throughout the Chicago area warned Thursday that known sex offenders should consider themselves under a microscope this Halloween.
In Chicago, residents should call police if they see sex offenders handing out candy, said police spokesman Pat Camden.
“Parents should be aware of any registered offender living in their area,” Camden said. “If these people are giving out candy, we encourage them to give us a call and we’ll check it out.”
The use of red tags smacks of placing a “badge of infamy” on sex offenders, said Harold Krent, dean of the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
“It’s that scarlet letter all over again,” Krent said.
It’s possible Elgin police could mistakenly tag the wrong door or misidentify someone who isn’t a sex offender, Krent said.
The law that took effect in July applies only to sex offenders who are on parole or probation. But Elgin police plan to visit the homes of all convicted sex offenders.
The red tag denotes the officer’s visit and asks the offender to contact police to verify his address.
If parents and trick-or-treaters see the tags, all the better, Wolf said.
“The original intent for us was not to publicize that a sex offender lives at that house,” Wolf said, but he acknowledged that the tags will serve as a warning to anyone else.
Wolf acknowledged that sex offenders at home when police call won’t have their houses or apartments tagged and that the tags can be removed at any time.
Just because a door has no red tag won’t mean a convicted sex offender doesn’t live there, authorities said.
State law requires convicted sex offenders to notify authorities yearly of their whereabouts.
Under the law passed last summer, sex offenders on probation or parole are banned from dressing as Santa Claus or as the Easter bunny.
Illinois has just under 20,000 registered sex offenders, and about 5,000 of them are on probation or parole at any given time, said Cara Smith, policy director for Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan.
If sex offenders under supervision hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, they could face revocation of their parole or a penalty for violation of probation, Smith said.
But some child advocates–and even recovering sexual predators–said they doubted the law would work.
“This is American paranoia at its best,” said Jake Goldenflame, a convicted child molester from San Francisco who counsels parents nationwide on how to protect their children from abuse.
“The whole concept of parole or probation is that we are saying that we don’t think you need to be confined,” he said.
Ken Wooden is creator of a program that will be introduced in Illinois schools in December and teaches children and adults how to spot sexual predators. He cautiously applauded the law.
“My concern always is what about the guys with no record,” Wooden said. “I don’t have much confidence in laws. These guys are such con men.”
In Naperville, Sgt. Joel Truemper said police keep a close eye on sex offenders.
“We have probably 12 to 15 registered sex offenders that live in Naperville and we have a unit that monitors them,” he said.
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Evanston residents can check the city’s Web site for a special Halloween message that will give the addresses of all area sex offenders, said Police Chief Joe Bellino.
The attorney general’s office and local police encourage the public to check the Illinois State Police Web site to learn where registered sex offenders live.
“Just like parents check their kids’ candy when they come home, parents can go on their computer to tell kids, `Hey, that’s not a safe house, don’t go there,'” said Melissa Merz, a spokeswoman for Madigan.
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Would you like to know where registered sex offenders live? Check the Illinois State Police Web site, www.isp.state.il.us, or call 888-414-7678.