Officers from the Nevada Department of Public Safety – Division of Parole and Probation (NDPS/DPP), in an effort to provide enhanced safety for children who may be targeted by sexual predators during the holiday, conducted the 8th annual Halloween Operation: Scarecrow.
The purpose of this operation was to ensure there was no contact between division supervised sex offenders and children. Operation Scarecrow provides enhanced community supervision giving specific direction to high risk and high profile sex offenders. Offenders were not be allowed to participate in any activity which could lure children to or near their residences, including a restriction that they could not have home parties or pass out candy.
The focus of the operation was to ensure that offenders whose crime involved a child victim or offenders who have a "no contact with children" condition have no contact whatsoever with children. Division officers specifically targeted sex offenders under the Division's supervision.
Beginning October 1, 2012, and throughout the month of October, division officers began providing these sex offenders with an "Offender Halloween Restrictions" handout. These sex offenders were instructed they must avoid any contact with children during the Halloween holiday, and must avoid participation in any Halloween-related festivities involving or potentially involving children.
Officers across Nevada conducted residential contacts and surveillance activities to ensure offender compliance and to spot any potential violations of the "Offender Halloween Restrictions" provided to the offenders. Officers made as many contacts as possible during the operation. Enforcement action regarding observed violations was determined on a case-by-case basis.
Operation Scarecrow resulted in a total of 112 home contacts and 35 surveillances of supervised sex offenders. No arrests or contraband were seized and overall Scarecrow was considered a success.
From the Nevada Department of Public Safety
