Shame on you. This story is both prurient and exploitative.

Most of the people on this list live in apartment buildings. Some on the second floor. How many trick or treaters are they going to encounter?

When was the last case of a trick or treater being assaulted by a sex offender on Halloween? Anywhere in the U,S., when was the last case?

There was one case in the 1970's, but beyond that, there are NO CASES.

You are telling people to stay away from others who pose a danger on aspecific day of where there is no greater danger than any other day.

In fact, you have a residency restriction of which there is no relationship between offending and distance from arbitrary places.

Is there ANY public safety benefit from the registry?

You just FEEL protected, and you think that is enough to pass ex-post facto laws, warm people of non-existent dangers, and pass around registry information in unlmiited ways.

I am sorry, Matthew, you don't get to make up your own public safety theories, use it to panic the community and then use the law in order to enforce laws that ONLY lead to a more dangerous community, not only for children, but for offenders too.

Don't ever think your registry has to be followed when it was put together without hearings, and ex-post facto and cannot be challenged, that even clearly non-dangerous people are included on the list AND the public uses the list in unlimited ways to harass, threaten, isolate, banish and put fear into offenders.

True despots love the pronouns of THEM, THOSE, and THEY. It requires no thinking, and ensures everyone is equally stripped of their humanity.

Oh, isn't it wonderful to be able to label someone a predator by legislative fiat. ONE isn't a predator because of WHEN his crime occurred and the other IS one because his crime ocurred a day later.

The point I am making is, the term "predator" is MEANINGLESS,..

But I know you just love the list. How it is put together doesn't even enter into your mind.

Did you do any fact checking before you wrote this story? For example, did you read the research that says children are FAR more likely to be harmed by auto accidents or juvenile mischief at Halloween than be sexually assaulted? In fact, research shows that there has never been any sort of increase in sexual offenses at Halloween. And I challenge you to find a single example of a sex offender using Halloween as an opportunity to reoffend. So, exactly how does this information give parents "peace of mind"? How does this make anyone safer at Halloween? Please at least have the guts to admit that you are capitalizing on a sensational topic, and not really trying to make life safer for your readers.

There is nothing remotely inappropriate about sharing this public information. In fact, not doing so if you know it's out there would be inappropriate. There is no need to debate the convictions of each and every person on this list ... but putting these people on the radar of parents who responsibly want to protect their children is a good thing. If you think otherwise, I think you are seriously out of touch. You argument would seem to be "just because they were convicted of such-and-such a crime that puts them on this list, it's unconscionable that you potentially limit their right to distribute candy to streams of innocent, anonymous kids on Halloween! That right should not be infringed!" Idiotic leap of logic.

Matthew-I live in the area and have 3 girls that love to trick-or-treat. Unfortunately, I myself have been exposed to and sexually harassed as a child. As you can imagine, those incidents have changed my life. It's unfortunate that I have to make sure my girls (even at their young age) know there are perverts/predators out there. Thank you for bringing this list "front and center", not only as a reminder, but access for parents who might not be aware. PS-Will and Rudy, I'm not sure I understand where you are coming from or who you seem to be protecting with your comments. "capitalizing on a sensational topic"...it's not talked about enough! Sexual abuse is rampant!!!

As the parent of children in the area, I found this reminder that the information is out there quite helpful. I really don't care if it's unlikely that a sex offender will harm my kid, I will simply avoid the dwelling, just as I avoid those houses that had the drug dealers. It's not because I think heroin will wind up in the Snickers bar.

Jean: "Most of the people on this list live in apartment buildings. Some on the second floor. How many trick or treaters are they going to encounter?"

Matt: "I challenge you to find a single example of a sex offender using Halloween as an opportunity to reoffend."

And the neighbors knew to look out for him how...?
http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/11-01-2012/Judge_OKs_sex_offender%27s_Halloween_visit_to_Oak_Park

Sorry, that was Will who issued the challenge.

Kevin Tinsley was not on that list. He's registered as residing in a hotel in Brookfield. He was arrested for NOT registering, in fact.