Registered sex offenders on probation in Effingham County will be spending their Halloween at the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff’s office spokesman Detective David Ehsanipoor said about 50 offenders have been contacted to report to the sheriff’s office Thursday from 6-9 p.m.. The requirement is part of their probation.

The sheriff’s office has been requiring offenders on probation to report to the sheriff’s office for several years.

“We want to give parents some peace of mind and reduce the chance of something bad happening,” Ehsanipoor said.

This year the offenders will not be allowed to bring magazines, books and computers.

“We had problems with some of them looking at pornography,” Ehsanipoor said.

The offenders will be kept in a conference room for the evening.

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office has offered parents the following suggestions on Halloween safety:
• Dress children in brightly-colored, loose-fitting clothing and reflective material if out after dark.
• Do not allow children to wear masks, which limit visibility.
• Children must be supervised by adults while going from house to house.
• Never allow a child to enter the home of a person they do not know.
• Only take children to well-lighted neighborhoods they know.
• When walking from house to house, pedestrians should not walk in the roadway, especially after dark.
• Adults should not allow children to eat any candy or treats prior to inspection by a parent or trusted adult.

Any suspicious activity should be reported immediately to the Sheriff’s Office at 754-3449. If there is an emergency/criminal activity in progress, call 911.