CDCR’s Statewide Operation Boo Strengthens Public Safety Efforts This Halloween

More than 285 parole agents participated in Operation Boo Oct. 31

SACRAMENTO - Parole agents from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) fanned out across the state Saturday night as part of Operation Boo, a long-running effort aimed at keeping children and families safe during Halloween trick-or-treating.

More than 285 agents from CDCR's Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO), along with 160 local law enforcement partners, conducted 478 compliance checks and home visits.

As a result, 85 percent of sex offender supervised persons were found in compliance with their parole conditions, ensuring families were safe during trick-or-treating.

Agents also arrested 74 supervised persons for failing to follow their special conditions of parole. The compliance checks focused on sex offenders who are not authorized to have contact with minors and are required to adhere to a curfew and strict guidelines on Halloween night. Those found in violation could face parole revocation or local charges.

DAPO agents have been carrying out Operation Boo for more than 30 years. Every year, on Halloween, sex offender supervised persons who are not authorized to have contact with minors are ordered to abide by special conditions of parole on that night, including:

• A curfew from 5 p.m. on Oct. 31 to 5 a.m. on Nov. 1, requiring sex offender supervised persons to remain indoors
• All exterior lights of their homes must be turned off to discourage children from approaching
• No offering of Halloween candy and no Halloween decorations are allowed
• During the curfew, sex offender supervised persons can only open the door to respond to law enforcement, adult family members, or emergency needs

In addition to Halloween enforcement, DAPO works year-round with community organizations to connect supervised persons to transitional housing, employment assistance, food and other reentry resources.

"Part of the accountability culture that we have is helping them remain accountable and providing them resources, reentry opportunities and reintegration opportunities," Bishop said. "Those are not competing endeavors. They're all part of the rehabilitation plan for our parole population."

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