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Georgia Sheriff Provides Free Halloween Decorations To Sex Offenders - Warning Signs
"At the end of the day, I don't care if they do like it or if they don't like it. My job us to ensure the safety of the children and the community and that's what I'm going to do," Butts County Sheriff Gary Long said.
Children trick-or-treating in Butts County, Georgia got some extra instructions on Halloween, particularly over where not to visit in search of candy: at sex offenders' homes.
”As Sheriff, there is nothing more important to me than the safety of your children. This Halloween, my office has placed signs in front of every registered sex offender's house to notify the public that it's a house to avoid,” Butts County Sheriff’ Sheriff Gary Long posted on Facebook.
Long added that the signs were placed in accordance with Georgia Law which states that the Sheriff shall inform the public of the presence of sexual offenders in the community.
"I'm not trying to humiliate 'em or anything like that. Let's face reality: We have a greater chance of children getting run over by a car [on Halloween] than being a victim of sexual assault by a repeat offender," Long told CBS News, adding that there are 54 registered sex offenders in Butts County. "But at the end of the day if, in fact, we had a child that fell victim to a sexual assault, especially by a convicted sex offender, I don't think I could sleep at night."
Long said his department’s deputies began placing the signs on offenders' yards on Saturday and that they would be removed after Halloween.
"At the end of the day, I don't care if they do like it or if they don't like it. My job us to ensure the safety of the children and the community and that's what I'm going to do," Long told CBS News.
[Photo: Butts County Sheriff’s Office]
