See If Any Sex Offenders are Your Shreveport Halloween Route

Growing up in the 60's and 70's, Trick or Treating was vastly different than it is today. It's hard to even fathom now, but then, parents would just let children canvas the neighborhood freely, unoccompanied, going from house to house gathering as much candy as one could carry. The biggest concern was watching out for the infamous razor blade in the apple.

Get our free mobile app

Yes, an apple. People used to pass out hand-made treats like candied-apples, caramel apples, home-made popcorn balls, and home-made cookies and brownies. And they were awesome. Can you imagine eating a home-made popcorn ball from your kids' Halloween bag today? Back then, you didn't have to worry.

Photo by Henry Becerra on Unsplash

But today, there are much more serious issues to worry about when taking your little rug rats trick or treating. In addition to making sure all their candy is individually wrapped, x-rayed, and thoroughly examined, you also have to monitor the houses your children visit while they're out. Unfortunately, sex predators are something parents now have to be concerned with, especially this time of year.

One safety tip is pretty obvious. Only take your kids to neighbors you know or trust. Or if you do go to other neighborhoods, its a good idea to do a little research before you go. The Louisiana State Police have created an interactive map that will help you determine if a convicted sex offender lives in or near your neighborhood. The map will link you to local law enforcement agency websites allowing you to pinpoint local areas for registered sex offenders.

Louisiana state law requires sex offenders to maintain current residence records with local law enforcement agencies. If a convicted sex offender fails to update a change of address, or reports incorrect information, it is a violation of the law.