MILWAUKEE — Halloween is the time to dress to impress and for children to get candy. But, in order to ensure the community and children are safe, the Department of Corrections conducted random home visits of registered sex offenders in the county.
The Department of Corrections (DOC) supervises nearly 63,000 people on community supervision, probation or parole, including 6,240 registered sex offenders, that's according to the DOC.
11 teams consisting of law enforcement and probation and parole agents went door to door in specific districts to ensure the public and children are safe this Halloween.
"They will go out to the house and they will do a random home visit," Department of Corrections Field Supervisor, Marnie Ohrmund said. "They will looking to make sure there's no obvious signs that the clients are participating with Halloween decorations."
Certain restrictions were established for registered sex offenders to protect children during Halloween they include:
- Not Having any Halloween decorations inside or outside.
- Not handing out candy or participating in any activities.
- Not wearing a costume or turning on the porch light during their local trick-or-treating hours.
DOC Probation and Parole Agent Jason Luebke's team consisted of another agent and two Milwaukee Police Officers.
"In Milwaukee, we have 200 referrals county wide that field teams are working on," Luebke said. "We are in district 4."
As we followed Jason and his team, house after house, they were in and out fairly quickly.
"We're there to verify that it's A their residence, B they're there and that things are in line with expectations of their requirements," he said.
Things were going smooth and until the team made contact with the next individual at his house.
"We made contact with the gentleman on supervision and observed violations and supervisors determined he needed to be detained," Luebke said. "There were things observed that aren't in compliance with the supervision."
Luebke said if anyone is in violation of the rules, it would be up to the supervisors to determine if the individual needs to be arrested.
In this case, that man was arrested and taken to Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility.
DOC Field Supervisor Ohrmund reiterated that the reason they do home visits is to ensure the public safety.
Now, registered sex offenders have regular home visits, but this one done on Halloween to ensure safe trick-or-treating for all.
