Tips for Parents Living with a Sexual Predator in Your Neighborhood

A number of years back, a young man in our neighborhood raped an adolescent girl at the school yard. He was tried and convicted and sent to jail. Upon his release, his only option was to return to live in his parent's home. When he was released, the local police sent fliers to homeowners in the area advising that he had been released and explaining his restrictions and providing a mug shot. Ordinarily, I wouldn't worry too much about it except at the time I had a young girl living in my household. Here are some tips for living with a sexual predator in your neighborhood.

How to Find Out If A Sexual Predator Lives in Your Area

If you provide your zip code to your home to the FamilyWatchDog website, it will return a map of the area with boxes colored red, green, blue and yellow boxes of people convicted of crimes of rape, assault of children, battery and of other related crimes. Pictures are available along with descriptions and explanations of the crime committed. There are other website available, but this one doesn't require registration. See the definitions of what makes a person a sexual predator.

Keep a Copy of any Sexual Predator's Pictures

Because I wanted the young girl in my house to pay attention to her safety, having the picture on the refrigerator was a constant reminder that there may be danger.

Advise Children to Travel in Groups or Pairs and Report Whereabouts

Although some people haven't been able to afford a cell phone, the concept is still the same. Children should be expected to tell you where they are going, when they will be back and call if they are going to be late. Instruct them that an adult must be in charge at any location that they visit.

Children should travel in pairs or with a group when going to public parks and to schools. Parents can take turns walking them to their destination, especially during low light times.

Train your child to use safety practices, say no to strangers and rehearse responses to dangerous situations such as opening doors, entering cars and answering the phone when the situation involves a stranger -see the Florida Sexual Predator Safety Worksheet for guidance.

Parents in a Sexual Predator's Neighborhood Should Keep Bushes Trimmed

Big bulky bushes can provide places where someone could hide and attack a child. Such yard greenery should be kept trimmed neatly and away from sidewalks and walkways.

Don't Answer Survey Questions About Children

During this same time, a young man came to the door, holding a clipboard and wearing a hat. He explained he was a student doing a survey. He asked several questions then started asking how many children lived in my household, were female and what their ages were. With census surveys, you expect to answer a question like that. But when he started asking questions about the neighbors children, I thought it quite out of line. I told him that there was a sexual predator in the neighborhood and that folks weren't likely to take kindly to his questions. He thanked me and left.

Afterwards, I thought "I should have asked for identification."

If Someone Asks Questions About Neighborhood Children Report it to the Police

It took me about ten seconds after closing the door to get mad at the young man walking up to my door. His coloring was similar to the person on the poster. I immediately called the police and reported the incident and they sent a car to check the guy out.