Mississippi Sheriff: No Law Stops Sex Offenders From Handing Out Candy

The Forrest County Sheriff's Office in Mississippi issued a public advisory urging residents to consult the state sex offender registry before finalizing their trick-or-treating plans for Halloween.

Major Jamie Humphrey of the Forrest County Sheriff's Office stated that the registry is often overlooked during holiday preparations. "Most people have no idea that a sex offender lives in their neighborhood or even as close to their residence as they do," Humphrey said. He noted that the department wants to ensure parents are aware of who lives in their immediate vicinity.

Humphrey pointed out a legal distinction between Mississippi and other states regarding registered offenders. In Florida, for example, registered sex offenders are prohibited from displaying Halloween decorations. "A registered sex offender in the state of Florida can't put up Halloween decorations. And that's something maybe the state of Mississippi needs to look at," Humphrey said. "But there's no rule against them putting Halloween decorations up or even giving out candy on Halloween. They can do that."

Because no state law currently restricts the activity, Humphrey recommended a specific approach for families. "The best thing to do is just avoid the house, save any guesswork and just stay away from it. That's the best advice I could give a parent," he said. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety hosts the registry online, allowing users to search by address or ZIP code to identify registered individuals in a specific area.

The sheriff's office also provided general safety guidelines for the evening. Parents are advised to supervise children under the age of 12 and to inspect all collected candy. Special attention should be paid to street crossings. Humphrey emphasized the importance of ensuring drivers see children. "From the time me and you were in school, we were taught, look both ways before crossing the street," he said. "Well, now if you teach a kid to look both ways and you notice a car, make eye contact with it. Teach your kids to make eye contact with the driver. That way, that driver knows that that child's there."

The advisory was distributed on October 30, the day before the holiday. The Forrest County Sheriff's Office will monitor the registry data as families plan their routes. The registry remains the primary tool for identifying registered sex offenders within the county.