Orland Park Patch wants to help Orland Park and Orland Hills parents keep their kids safe this Halloween.

Previously, we filled you in on the regulations regarding registered sex offenders in your area.

Read: 'Trick No Treat' for Area's Registered Sex Offenders

In general, the laws center on sex offenders registering in person each year at the local police department. They must do so for a required 10-year registration period, unless they are separately required to register for life. Offenders are prohibited from living within 500 feet of a school, daycare center, youth center or other facility that caters to children younger than 18 years old.

Rules for Halloween

In July 2005, a new state law was passed barring registered sex offenders from participating in any holiday event involving children, including Halloween. This same law also prohibits sex offenders from dressing as Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.

During Halloween, sex offenders are not allowed to distribute candy to children; however, the law does give leeway to sex offenders who are parents or legal guardians of children under age 18 living in the home. While those sex offenders are still barred from handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, other household members can participate in Halloween activities.

To avoid violating the law, registered sex offenders often are advised by police to keep porch lights turned off to avoid attracting children on Halloween and to not answer the door. Registered sex offenders also are prohibited from leaving the house dressed in costumes.

Registered sex offenders who break the rules may be subject to fines or revocation of their parole or probation.

Sex Offenders in Your Neighborhood

A search of the Illinois Sex Offender Registry links 12 registered sex offenders to Orland Park and 4 registered sex offenders to Orland Hills.

All of those offenders are compliant with the laws, according to the Illinois State Police.

How the Map Works

The map is interactive, meaning you can zoom in, zoom out, or move it around to see all the plotted points.

Floating your cursor over one of the markers will give you the name of the sex offender and his address. Double clicking on the marker will give you more information about the specific charge.

The yellow markers represent sex offenders who are not listed as sexual predators. The remaining red pins are those who are labeled as sexual predators in the registry.

The term refers to anyone convicted after July 1, 1999 of certain violations in the Criminal Code of 1961. Sexual predators are required to register for their entire lives.

Tinley Park Patch Editor Joe Vince contributed to this report.

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