That is so frightening! Unfortunately, if you son lives with you when he is released the decorating restriction and candy (whatever is in your state) will apply to the whole house. Some state are worst than others - some have the restrictions for all sex offenders - others are only while on paper

that is really a fear mongering article - it makes me sick - and you know the worst part? According to many experts there has never been a case of a sex offender accosting a child on Halloween and Jill Levenson wrote an article on it last year (I believe) that said the biggest danger to children on Halloween is getting hit by a car.

Well, this is happening in my state where I live but I am in another Parish but you can bet your bottom dollar that it will eventually be everywhere. They say that they are protecting the SO as well as the children. Lets be quite honest! They are full of bullshit! That is giving everyone a ticket to come do something to your home, vehicles, you, etc. As far as I am concerned, I will look into this because although my son is in prison, I do not think they can take that right away from me. I don't have this on my name. I feel that if I do not fight this that they will get away with every little thing they can. Soon they will have one area where they put all people who have SO on them. You know, the new Scarlet Letter!!!! I want to say that this is against MY constitutional rights. I will have to ask Rew about this.

Rew, what do you think?

HB

Could be worse...there are places in Florida that requirethe sign to be posted year round!

I think someone needs to start filing lawsuits in Louisiana and in any other state that has this ridiculous restriction imposed on them. Signs in the front yard are just a prescription for vigilantism against both the sex offender and the property owner.

These signs in the yard of sex offenders that live with their parents are coming very close to infringing on the rights of the property owners. There are other constitutional issues also.

As I said before, court decisions are one sure method to ensuring fair treatment for sex offenders. We most certainly can not wait for the politicians to come to our side, but a court decision cannot be overcome in many instances. I learned that in the Starkey decision in Oklahoma.

One city in California has already backed down from some of the Halloween sign nonsense, but they did that only when Janice filed a federal law suit against the city. This particular legal action concerned signs on the front door, but I think signs in the yard would be even more egregious a violation.

http://tinyurl.com/nvnn8c2

Here is also a memo from the ACLU written to Louisiana's sheriffs date today regarding this issue.

http://tinyurl.com/l8xmxrc

rewdiazepam

Some of these cities and counties need to be taken to court and possibly hit in the pocketbook in the form of fines. Money judgments are one way to get their attention as well as the attention of surrounding areas.

That is, unfortunately, the only way this madness will stop.

rewdiazepam

Thanks Rew! I knew you would give us your expert advice and know the information that I need. It has not hit my Parish yet, but I am going to work on this.

HB

I am so glad to see the ACLU getting more involved in sex offender issues - I thought it was a good letter - could have used some statistics to support the fact that there is no evidence that sex offenders need to be watched on Halloween but we cant have everything! I like the angle they are taking about the innocents in the family - great point

Here is a key passage in the memo the ACLU sent to the sheriff's----

"These signs violate the privacy rights of family members who have committed no crimes and who are therefore not subject to registration or any other restrictions on their activities."

rewdiazepam

Awesome Rew! Thanks so much! I cannot wait to see the news in a little while to see what they have to say. Yeah, I was ready to sue! Kind of a get back at them thing! Ha ha ha

I didn't know they could that, I am new to all of this. My husband is just 3 weeks away from his Pre-Trial Hearing and his picture & information was just posted in the local newspaper. How can they come onto your property and post signs - I'm afraid as soon as I saw one, I would take it down & throw it away. Let them take me to jail when they came on MY property without my permission. Maybe I better get some No Trespassing signs up. They don't do that sort of thing for any other offenses. We have also been told that sex offenders are the most treatable to not offend again with the proper treatment. Let them try & come on my property. I live in Idaho.

Where are the signs on the lawn for drug dealers, who put drugs in the candy? How safe is that for children? I mean seriously?! I have a clean criminal record, just because my man is a RSO, I dont know what his record has to do with someone with a clean record. For crying out loud I am a mandated reporter and this is taking away from my freedom. I think if enough of us get together and plan a big deal to congress, we might get lucky enough to have the sex offender registry revamped hard corps. Anyone who is related to a RSO suffers along with the SO. I mean some places won't even hire someone just because they are related to or involved in a relationship with a SO.People rights are being violated because this country is totally messed up. We need to take a stand in DC

Perhaps some one should post signs at the homes of politicians, judges and law enforcement. You could say the purpose it to enlighten folks to know where to go to get legal help?

Most of the progress in our movement is coming at the state level, not the federal level.

The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that the registry is not punitive and merely a civil regulatory scheme to protect the public, so I doubt we will get much help on the federal level.

Get involved in your state chapters. Here is where most of the work is done.

rewdiazepam

I dislike some of the stances the ACLU takes, but I am glad they do what they do!