METHUEN, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) – Halloween is a night for fun, joy and games, but as many parents are worried it can also put their kids at risk.
Across the state of Massachusetts there are registered sex offenders in many towns, but finding out information about them can be difficult. Police departments are only allowed to publish information about level 3 offenders; however they can give out certain information about level 1 and 2 offenders to residents of a specific area if requested.
In Methuen, the Police Department has posted a map showing where the level 3 offenders live, and the state has published a searchable database for all residents of Massachusetts.
Residents think they should have access to information about all sex offenders, no matter what the level.
"Because we don't know! They could be living right next door to us and we wouldn't know," one Methuen resident said.
Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon told FOX25 that he's received dozens of calls from residents asking for the information.
"You also have to be concerned about who else is in that neighborhood," Solomon said.
Residents can go to their local police department, show their address, and find out where Level 1 and 2 offenders live nearby. But some people we spoke with believe that information needs to more accessible. One woman we spoke to works in Methuen and lives in Haverhill and she told us she looked up her home and couldn't believe what she found!
"I'm very surprised. My surrounding area there are 52 of them," she said. "Just a couple blocks away!"
Solomon says, it's a balance between privacy and protection.
"They're individuals who have served their time. They have a right to live in our community. But we also have a right to let our citizens know these are addresses you might want to stay away from," he said.
He went on to say providing this information isn't meant to scare anyone, but he says knowledge is power.
Extra officers will also be patrolling neighborhoods on Halloween night.