To help ensure that these parolees comply with mandated Halloween night restrictions, the Attorney General’s Fugitive Unit and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole Division will jointly conduct Operation Safe Halloween beginning on Friday night. Operation Safe Halloween is a statewide law enforcement initiative that targets sexual predators who are legally required to avoid young trick-or-treaters on Halloween.
“Operation Safe Halloween will target convicted child sex offenders who violate conditions of their parole on Halloween night,” Attorney General Abbott said. “With young Texans out trick-or-treating, certain sexual predators are required to be off the streets, inside their homes, and out of the presence of young trick-or-treaters. We are grateful to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole Division and local law enforcement for working closely with the Fugitive Unit to help ensure Texas children are protected and that Halloween remains safe.”
Restrictions that govern individual convicted sex offenders vary depending upon each individual suspect’s sentence. Additionally, offenders’ parole officers may have independent authority to restrict certain activities. Frequently, parole officers instruct offenders to return home before dark and leave their porch lights off after dark on Halloween night. Operation Safe Halloween focuses on child sex offenders who violate their curfews, live where candy is being distributed to children, or reside where children are led to believe they can trick-or-treat.
Since taking office, Attorney General Abbott has earned a national reputation for aggressively arresting and prosecuting online child predators. The Fugitive Unit and the Cyber Crimes Unit, which protects children from online sexual exploitation, have combined to arrest more than 700 sex offenders since 2003. Cyber Crimes Unit investigators also have traveled to schools and communities statewide to offer educational cyber safety programs.
To find out more about Attorney General Abbott's efforts to crack down on sex predators, visit the Attorney General’s Web site at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov or call (800) 252-8011.
