New Jersey Sex Offenders Given Curfew For Halloween

Must be indoors by 7 p.m.

Can't answer the door for trick-or-treaters

Can't attend parties with children present

Can't take children trick-or-treating, even if they are your own children

"The candy's out there, same with the kids. Shame to say it like that, but they are," said Donna Bloom, of Gloucester City.

But other people NBC 10 spoke with said that it sounds good, but how can you keep tabs on those offenders?

"Two things our officers are going to be doing routine checks of curfews of those offenders. As well, we will have other officers who aren't a part of the sex offenders unit assisting them. In addition, we've notified all local police departments who would already know who they are because of the Megan's law registration," Bray said.

Barry Zakireh of the Joseph J. Peters Institute treats and counsels adult sex offenders. He said that the statistics show the recidivism rate for child molesters is low, and he feels this curfew is a nothing more than a knee-jerk reaction.

"We recognize the mob mentality, so to speak, when it comes to any crime -- in particular those that engender any kind of disgust in us," Zakireh said.

The ban does not include 5,800 sex offenders in New Jersey because their crimes were committed before Megan's Law was enacted in 1994.

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