Keep your child’s Trick or Treat activities safe
By Bob Robinson

“Don’t let your child go unsupervised!”

While this could be said about parental responsibility for their children outside the home year around, it is especially important in October and during the holiday season.

Official Trick or Treating is over in Darke County but will still be coming up in surrounding areas. The holiday season with heavier than usual shopping requires additional vigilance for young kids when out and about.

Krogers in Greenville is having a special Trick or Treat night for kids on Oct. 31. This is a safe venue for children, but they should still be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Greenville City Law Director Camille Baker offered additional information about keeping your child safe, but the emphasis was on supervision by the parent or other responsible adult…

“Don’t let them go out by themselves,” she repeated.

Stay in your neighborhood when Trick or Treating, she said. Be cognizant of anyone you don’t know.

“Just having kids go out in groups isn’t good enough,” she said. “Kids can get separated from groups. Make sure a responsible adult is with the kids.”

Parents need to be aware there is no state law keeping sex offenders from handing out candy to kids or being in areas where kids like to play; the responsibility is with the parent or guardian.

“The only time there might be a restriction would be from the individual’s parole or probation officer,” she said. “Even the court could specify this as part of the sentence… but the restriction would have to be from the court or an appointed officer.”

Baker noted parental concern shouldn’t be just about sex offenders. People can get focused on them but should be aware of all possibilities where their kids are involved.

“Razer blades were a big concern in the 70’s,” she said. “Nothing was ever said about sex offenders.”

The Darke County Sheriff’s Office has done its part in making sure parents can be safely informed before their kids go out to play or enjoy Trick or Treat this year.

Darke County has 88 registered sex offenders. The Sheriff’s Office, with the aid of 10 other teams, performed a sweep of all registered offenders to make sure they were in compliance with sex offender registration laws.

“It was no accident that the verification sweep occurred in close connection with upcoming Halloween events in Darke County,” Sheriff Toby Spencer said. “We wanted the compliance checks to occur so that Darke County residents could be informed of the most current and accurate information available.”

Click on the website (www.darkecountysheriff.org/) then find the “Sex Offender” list on the left. Type in your address to see who in your area is registered.