Memo to Officers
RE: Sex Offender Monitoring and Supervision
Subject: Halloween, October 31, 2010
Police work is important and public safety is every officer’s concern. Halloween requires extra diligence for the officers assigned to monitor the location and compliance of all REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS. It’s a thankless job and full of many dangers. After all, sex offenders are always on the prowl, hunting down their next victim. This is especially true in the state of Texas. The registry in Texas is full of dangerous individuals, male and female, young, old, and deceased. It is those offenders listed on the Texas Sex Offender Registry who are deceased that prove to be the most difficult to monitor.
Verifying that the offender is in the correct gravesite is of utmost importance and is essential for the welfare and safety of the public. It is the responsibility of the officer to verify and confirm that deceased offenders reside in their registered plot or tomb. It is also the responsibility of that same officer to ensure deceased offenders are in full compliance with all restrictions and conditions associated with registration.
Note: Probation and parole restrictions are still in force if the offender dies while under supervision.
On Halloween night the officer in charge of monitoring sex offenders will be required to go to the cemetery and confirm that the offender is at the correct address (gravesite) and has not been moved to another location. Furthermore, the officer is required to confirm that there will be absolutely no contact with children. If the offender comes into contact with any child under the age of 18, even if by accident (child steps on the grave), offender will face revocation. This proves to be difficult to monitor as teenagers love to visit the cemetery on Halloween night.
Note: Residency restrictions for offenders on probation or parole prohibit offenders, dead or alive, from living within 1000 feet or less from a church. Offenders whose final resting places are in cemeteries on church property have 30 days to make other arrangements. Registration of new address (gravesite) is required within 7 days of relocation.
Any violations of these requirements will be terms for swift and immediate revocation.
Notice to Deceased Offenders:
Graveside Halloween decorations are strictly prohibited, and don’t even think about rising up and scaring anyone.
Don’t think for a minute that because you are dead you are exempt from any of the required sex offender restrictions or conditions. Those of us in charge of public safety will revoke you in a minute.
Death is not a valid reason for removal from the Texas Sex Offender Registry.