Cole County Sheriff’s deputies will be out on Halloween evening conducting compliance checks on 149 registered sex offenders.

Under Missouri law, anyone on the registry since August 28, 2008, must avoid any Halloween-related contact with children, stay inside their homes from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and must keep exterior lights off during that time.

Deputies will verify addresses, check vehicles, and speak with neighbors to ensure compliance. Any violation could result in a Class A misdemeanor. The Sheriff’s Office says the annual effort helps keep communities safe and ensures offenders’ information remains accurate and up to date.