Sex Offenders Have Special Rules for Halloween

Registered sex offenders living in unincorporated Cook County are under scrutiny today, Halloween. They are required to check in with detectives and are subject to random compliance checks, the Cook County Sheriff office has announced.

Throughout the day, the felons have to check in at one of five Cook County Sheriff’s Office police facilities, where they will re-register, take a new photo and view an educational video detailing their responsibilities and requirements under the law and updating them on new regulations. These requirements include, but are not limited to, restrictions on the proximity of their residence to schools and parks; restrictions on employment at businesses that cater to children; restrictions on the use of internet social networks; and updating their home address and employment regularly.

Sheriff Thomas J. Sheriff Dart notified his police department he wanted aerial footage in conjunction with a detective walking the grounds of each residence for this year’s compliance check.  

In the past couple weeks, the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department has been conducting aerial and ground checks on the residences of all registered sex offenders in unincorporated Cook County. A detective from the Sheriff’s office worked in unison with the officers in the helicopter to not just capture video and still photos, but also to walk each property while the helicopter hovered above.

In addition to the required check-in, approximately 100 Cook County Sheriff’s Police officers will be conducting random compliance checks of registered sex offenders, at their residences, throughout the day. Officers will be going door to door conducting “knock and talks” to verify addresses, make sure sex offenders are in compliance with the rules and regulations, and to let them know there will be a strong police presence on Halloween.  

This year’s new Halloween check-in requirement is a direct result of state legislation Sheriff Dart lobbied for, which allows police departments to keep better track of sex offenders. The new law states: “Any other person who is required to register under this Article shall report in person to the appropriate law enforcement agency with whom he or she last registered within one year from the date of last registration and every year thereafter and at such other times at the request of the law enforcement agency not to exceed four times a year.”

There are 65 registered sex offenders in unincorporated Cook County. Pursuant to the Sex Offender and Child Murderer Community Notification Law, 730 ILCS 152/101,et seq., the Cook County Sheriff's Police Department maintains a list of sex offenders residing in Unincorporated Cook County who are required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act, 730 ILCS 150/2, et seq. To learn where registered sex offenders are living in Unincorporated Cook County, Illinois, go to cookcountysheriff.org. To learn where registered sex offenders are living in Illinois, go to isp.state.il.us/sor/.

There is only one registered sex offender living in Western Springs, Tate H. Madler of 4042 Lawn Ave., who was again  for loitering in a La Grange public park.