Jefferson Co. Sheriff's Department: Before Halloween Families Should Check Sex Offender Registry

The alerts are in real-time and sent out via email.

(Madison, Ind.) - With Halloween coming up, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and the City of Madison Police Department would like families and children to remain as safe as possible. 

The two are reminding families to make sure to check the sex offender registry before heading out to trick-or-treat. 

In Jefferson County, there are approximately 61 registered sex offenders, and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and City of Madison Police Department want the community to know where they reside so they can choose to avoid those houses. 

"We do the best we can in making sure sex offenders live where they tell us, so it is crucial that our citizens visit our website to see who the registered sex offenders are and where they are living," says Sheriff David Thomas. "Citizens are encouraged to check any addresses where they or their families spend time. The mapping and address feature found on the website pinpoints exactly where an offender lives."

Madison Police Chief John Wallace and his department will be in the City on October 31, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., during trick-or-treating.

"Ensuring my communities safety is priority number one. Madison Police will be out in full force to make sure that all children have a fun and safe Halloween. We also want to encourage anyone that suspects suspicious individuals or dangerous activities to contact Jefferson County Central Dispatch at (812) 265-2648," said Chief Wallace. 

Community members will also find many other beneficial tools online, such as the ability to sign up for free automated email notifications informing if an offender moves into their neighborhood or around another address. 

"If you aren't planning on trick-or-treating in your neighborhood, but will be in a family or friend's neighborhood, register their address beforehand so you know which houses to avoid," says Sheriff Thomas.

The alerts are in real-time and sent out via email as soon as a new offender has registered with the Jefferson County Matron, Libby Hoffman..

Search for sex offenders and sign up for email alerts on Jefferson County Sheriff's Department website, jeffersoncounty.in.gov/289/Sex-Offender-Registry.

Sheriffs David Thomas and Madison Police Chief John Wallace want to encourage everyone to have a fun and safe Halloween. Knowledge is power, and knowing where registered sex offenders reside can help citizens make safer decisions when trick-or-treating. 

For more information, you can call the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department Sex Offender Compliance Office at (812) 274-3971.