UPDATED Sex Offender Watch: Know Which Houses To Avoid On Halloween
Take a look at this interactive map of registered sex offenders living in Oak Lawn. NOW UPDATED with new information about Alsip and Burbank.
Map information comes from the Illinois Sex Offender Registry
As your kids get ready to head out on Halloween, it's always a good idea to take safety precautions. Patch put together a map of the registered sex offenders living your area.
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In 2005 a law was passed that bars sex offenders who are still under supervision from taking part in holidays geared toward children, including Halloween. They are often advised to turn off their porch lights and to not answer the door.
Oak Lawn (red flags on the map) currently has 26 registered sex offenders, which has decreased from 31 this same time period last year. Of the registrants, two are incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections, three have moved out of Oak Lawn.
Alsip has eight (blue flags on the map) and Burbank (yellow flags on the map) has ten registered sex offenders for a total of 44.
Scroll over the pinpoints to see the addresses and click on the pinpoints to view the charges the offender was convicted of. You can search the registry directly.
- Registered sex offenders are not allowed to distribute candy to children; however, the law does give leeway to sex offenders who are parents or legal guardians of children under age 18 living in the home.
- Registered sex offenders are prohibited from leaving their homes in costume because Halloween it is geared toward children. Sex offenders are also banned from dressing as Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.
- Registered sex offenders often are advised by police to keep porch lights turned off to avoid attracting children on Halloween and to not answer the door.
- Sex offenders are ordered to report to their respective districts where they will view a 20-minute, educational video detailing their responsibilities and requirements under the law, such as not living with 500 feet of a school, no social networking, and regularly updating their home address.
City of Burbank Blog
8:06 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
Does the registered sex offenders website allow us to do a map like this for other surrounding areas. For instance, I'd like to see one for Burbank. Or were you wonderful editors able to create such a fine map with the little flag marks and the names and address pop up when resting the mouse over each flag? Thanks for any input
Grunty
8:42 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
http://www2.isp.state.il.us/sormap/
Julie Roberts
3:53 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
This is a WONDERFUL thing for area parents! Awesome for The Patch to publish! With the society the way it is, I'd rather see the village do a Halloween Party for the kids that night and the Trick or Treating can be on a Sunday afternoon and we don't even have kids.
Meg
4:09 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Registered vs. not registered is still the issue
In 1 Ear and Out Ur Mother...
12:28 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
Then be sure to accompany your child. You cannot anticipate what a "non-registered" offender or what anyone else can or will attempt to do. Only you can protect your child.
Alex Smith
8:42 am on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Parents want to avoid the homes of convicted sex offenders.
Over 95% of sex crimes committed in this country are by individuals who are not 'registered sex offenders' at the time of their offence. That means that you are still going to the homes of sex offenders, whether you know it or not. It just makes you feel better. There will still be sex offenders at your village Halloween party.
This is how the registry is used against society, whether they know it or not. people trust people with their children if they are not a 'registered sex offender'. It happens all the time. And did the registry just help you protect your child? It's a sex offense blinder.
Dr. Linda Lorincz Shelton
1:13 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
Most sex offenders have not been arrested and are not on the map. Many sex offenders are not dangerous (like a 19 year old who had consensual sex with a 17 years old = statutory rape or an old man who had sex with a prostitute who he thought was a 19 year old but turned out to be 16). The crime of "sex offense" encompasses a lot of different types of people, some who are dangerous and some who are not dangerous.
These maps are generally worthless. Much of the crime against children are by people you would not suspect and who have not been on these maps. The sex offender registry does only one thing - destroy the life of the sex offender and make their sentence a life sentence. It does NOTHING to protect the public.
There is absolutely no statistical proof that having a sex offender registry reduces sex crimes or protects our children. The most important thing is to have your children go trick or treating accompanied by an adult.
anthony
8:29 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
720 ILCS 5/1-3 CONTEMPT OF COURT
so what how does that matter in this regard? Personal payback or does some one run checks on posters...
Lorraine Swanson
8:38 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
Frank,
The links you posted are not of a registered sex offender. Please stay on topic.