Tonight state parole officers invited news organizations to ride along as they make sure sex offenders are not handing out candy to children on Halloween.

This is a huge waste of tax dollars and does nothing to keep children safe.

Despite the fact there’s no uptick in sex crimes on Halloween, state officials are urging parents to check the sex offender registry before heading out to trick or treat. There has never been a case of a sex offender snatching up a costumed child who rings his doorbell, but “every Halloween needs a boogeyman.”

Our fear of sex offenders on Halloween has led to parents putting GPS tracking devices on their children, if children are allowed to go trick-or-treating alone at all. It’s led to court challenges over laws sex offenders can’t put up Halloween decorations. It’s led to putting sex offenders under house arrest on Halloween. It’s led to the kind of public shaming that may actually lead to more recidivism.

Our obsession with pedophiles is out of control. You know what police should be doing tonight instead of checking in on sex offenders? Directing traffic.

Links of the Day:

- Jean-Claude Brizard got a year’s salary and health insurance and a glowing letter of recommendation after he “resigned” from the top schools job in Chicago.

- Here’s an argument for upgrading America’s low-paying service jobs.

- Every October, breast cancer is sexualized. I can’t stand it.

Picture:

There’s a serious design flaw with the roundabout under construction at Court, Broad and Manhattan Sq. It’s being used as a drop-off zone for Midtown Manor apartments. At least a couple times a week I have to wait a few minutes behind a stopped car. There’s not enough room to pass. The motorists are perplexed and indifferent when I beep my horn. I understand how it intuitively looks like a drop-off point, but this is defeating the entire purpose of the roundabout.