CDCR expands "Operation Boo" Halloween Children's safety project

Online empowerment brochure launched to spur discussion about dangerous adults

Sacramento – The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Division of Adult Parole Operations – aided by the Attorney General’s Office, SAFE Officers and law enforcement partners statewide – is expanding the Halloween children safety project “Operation Boo.”

This year, the project includes the October 24, online launch of a parent empowerment brochure. The media is being invited to partner with CDCR in spreading the word to help keep kids safe. Visits to transient sex-offender round-up centers also will be added to the traditional sex-offender compliance checks on Halloween night. Additional information at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Parole/operation-boo-public-component.html


The Tradition

CDCR has been conducting and gradually expanding the Operation Boo Project since 1994. Now, in its 18th year, Operation Boo is conducted in each of the four California regions on Halloween night. State supervised sex-offenders* are monitored closely to ensure that they don’t attempt to attract children to their homes. Among the special conditions of parole imposed on sex offenders for Halloween night are:

• A 5 p.m.-to-5 a.m. curfew during which parolees must remain indoors;

• No exterior lights on at their homes, so that it looks as if no one is home and children are discouraged from approaching;

• No offering of Halloween candy and no Halloween decorations;

• During the curfew, sex-offender parolees can open the door only to respond to law enforcement, such as parole agents who are checking compliance.

What’s New with BOO 2011

In addition to the traditional compliance checks, this year Operation Boo will promote two new features:

• Parent Empowerment: Since only 11 percent of sex-offenders are under CDCR supervision, parental empowerment is the key to further protecting California children from sexual predators, not just during Halloween, but all year. That’s why on October 24, CDCR launched a free downloadable brochure with helpful information and links on the Internet for parents:

o Share a fun and non-threatening Halloween activity with their children to allow discussion of dangerous behavior in adults.

o Choose from among several tips by well-known organizations and experts for discussing personal safety for children.

o Use easy Internet links to survey the community and learn where sex-offenders may live in the area so they can steer clear and report any illegal activity observed.

o Create Operation Boo Parent Patrol badges for the parents to wear Halloween night to send a message to predators that they’re being watched, and to let everyone on the trick-or-treat trail know that parent awareness is key to keeping children safe on Halloween night and anytime.

The Operation Boo Information Guide for Parents is available here:
http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Parole/_pdf/Operation-Boo-Parents-Guide.pdf

• Transient Sex Offender Monitoring: Since a significant number of sex-offenders are homeless, special centers will be set up in most parole regions on Halloween night. Transient sex-offenders will be ordered to report to a center to spend the curfew under supervision. The centers will be part of the Halloween night media tours. (The deadline for media registration is October 24, for more info click here: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/News/operation-boo-media-component.html)

*(There are almost 92,000 sex-offenders in California. CDCR is responsible for supervising about 11 percent of them. For more information, please visit: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Parole/Sex Offender_Facts/index.html )