Operation Scarecrow: Law enforcement to conduct child sex offender checks in Carson City, Washoe County
In an effort to provide enhanced safety for children and to give the public a greater sense of security during Halloween evening, officers from the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Division of Parole and Probation, will conduct Operation Scarecrow on Oct. 31, 2019, in Carson City and the Reno, Sparks areas of Washoe County.
The primary objective of Operation Scarecrow is to minimize the potential for contact between children and Division-supervised sex offenders whose crime involved a minor victim(s). These targeted offenders are given specific direction by Division officers in advance of Halloween by means of a written notice of “Sex Offender Restrictions for Halloween,” which the offender is required to sign.
Halloween restrictions prohibit sex offenders from engaging in the following: answering their doors for children; distributing candy on Halloween; displaying Halloween decorations; and attending Halloween- associated festivities where children will be present.
During this operation, officers will be conducting home visitations and surveillances to determine offender compliance and to detect any potential violations of the Halloween restrictions provided to them. Enforcement action regarding encountered violations of supervision or Halloween restrictions will be determined on a case- by-case basis.