Md. Pays a Holiday Checkup on Child Sex Offenders

For probation and parole agents, the Halloween programs mean two whirlwind nights canvassing the homes of each child sex offender in their caseloads, said John Hafer of the division's Montgomery County office. The offenders considered to be the highest risks will receive more than one visit.

With his laptop and a partner, Hafer will drop by unannounced at 30 houses, checking first that the porch is dark and pumpkin-free. Halloween decorations are forbidden. Usually, the offenders are happy to comply, Hafer said.

"They fully understand that all somebody has to do is point a finger and accuse them of something and suddenly they are in a very difficult position," he said.

The extra checks can sometimes catch offenders unaware: A recent police sweep in Howard County revealed that one registrant had fled and that another was living at an unauthorized address.

Nor are offenders' families allowed to have Halloween at home. One of Hafer's most difficult cases is a child sex offender who lives with his wife and young daughter. The mother and daughter can go trick-or-treating, but their house must remain dark and uninviting, with the door unanswered.

"I've explained to him that his wife and child are going to make the best of it that they can," Hafer said. "It's very hard to explain all this to a young girl."

Some agents gather the sex offenders in their charge for group therapy meetings. Hafer cites an agent in Washington County who "invited" all of his offenders to a Halloween party. "They were all accounted for because they were all in his office," he said.