Halloween Safety: Does Your County Have Sex Offenders?

If you live in Georgia this Halloween, you should know that in the more than 100 counties spread across the state there are approximately 19,000 sex offenders who reside along with you and your children, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI).

More sex offenders to celebrate Halloween in some counties than others

Some counties have more sex offenders living in them than others. For example, Georgia's Chatham County has the most, with 464 registered sex offenders occupying the lower west part of the state and Glascock County, in the middle west portion of Georgia, has the least with only three residing there, according to the GBI's most recent published data.

Other counties in other states should have sex offender maps and data available online for parents to view as well, especially given the time of year approaching, when children will be going door-to-door to stranger's homes for Halloween.

You should be able to access their data by using your state's initial (G for Georgia, and adding a BI.gov to the end of it when searching online).

Sex Offenders Data for Halloween: All states

This Halloween check your specific county's total known number of sex offenders by accessing this GBI sex offender map. You can also access the Family Watchdog Sex Offender Database website in order to view a breakdown of all known sex offenders for your specific neighborhood within your county, even if you don't live in the state of Georgia.

The Watchdog website is available nationwide, providing information about all types of offenders that may live within your specific community as you celebrate Halloween this upcoming weekend with your family.

Halloween celebrations and events and sex offenders

While it is important to protect your family all year long, not just at this time of the year, you need to be more vigilant now. Halloween celebrations and events can go on at different days and times throughout the weekend. So you can't let down your guard after one Halloween event or party.

You need to stay aware of who really is in the costumes surrounding your children--or who lives in the homes, or will be a guest--where you will be visiting. Afterall, you're the parent. Your children can't protect themselves.

Halloween safety and beyond

In keeping with a desire to make sure your children don't become victims of a sex offender at any time of the year, not just at Halloween, you may be curious to know that in recent legislation in Congress 57 democrats voted to give sex offenders viagra in the new Health Care Reform Bill.

So whether you live in Georgia or another state, voting for politicians who support your child's safety is important, too.

Use precaution this Halloween weekend and don't be quick to go to homes you don't know just so your children can have a piece of candy this year. They are much more precious than that; be safe and keep them safe, too. And that means also voting wisely.

Resources: GBI.gov and Family Watchdog.us