TAMPA BAY, Fla. — Halloween is rapidly approaching, which means thousands of Bay Area children will be going door to door asking for candy. But do you really know who the stranger is behind the door your child is knocking on?
Although many law enforcement agencies encourage registered sex offenders to leave their lights off and not decorate for the popular holiday, no certainties that they will listen.
Florida has more than 74,000 sex offenders and sex predators who were convicted of sex crimes in its statewide database.
Sex offenders are required to register their permanent address with law enforcement. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains a database with this information.
Many of them continue to live among us after serving time.
| County | 2018 Offenders | 2017 Offenders |
Citrus |
319 | +14 |
| Hillsborough | 1,901 | +/- 0 |
| Hernando | 407 | +15 |
| Pasco | 887 | +1 |
| Pinellas | 1,763 | +41 |
| Polk | 1,204 | +24 |
| Manatee | 479 | +15 |
| Sarasota | 440 | +6 |
All parents can view this interactive map to see where any registered sex offenders might be in their neighborhood, or where their children plan on trick-or-treating.
