Registered sex offenders can pass out Halloween candy in New Mexico

There is no New Mexico Law that prohibits registered sex offenders from passing out candy or decorating their yards during the Halloween season, the Doña Ana County Sheriffs Department told ABC-7.

Kelly Jameson, a spokeswoman with the department, told ABC-7 the only exception is if the registered sex offender is on probation or parole.

“New Mexico, arguably, is a lenient state when it comes to sex offender rules and regulations and registrations,” Jameson said.

To help you decide which houses to avoid during trick-or-treating, DASO is a part of a program that helps you locate registered sex offenders in your neighborhood.

“The Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Department subscribes to OffenderWatch, which is a nationwide database for sex offender registration,” said Jameson

You can type in your address and the website will show all registered sex offenders in your area within a radius of your choice.

Kelly told ABC-7 there are 366 registered sex offenders in Dona Ana County.