Missouri judge lifts rule that requires sex offenders to post 'no candy' signs on Halloween

A federal judge in Missouri recently blocked a state law that required registered sex offenders to put up a "no candy" sign on their front doors during Halloween.

The law had been in place since 2008, but the judge called it unconstitutional and claimed it violated First and 14th Amendment rights.

Under the same law, registered sex offenders cannot interact with children nor can they have their lights on during Halloween. Those rules still apply.

Other states like Louisiana and Florida have similar restrictions that prohibit sex offenders from participating in the holiday. In California, parole agents with the state's Department of Corrections can conduct checks at the registered sex offenders' homes on Halloween to make sure they have their lights out — a universal sign that there is no candy or no participation in trick-or-treating.

But some parents in Missouri are upset about the recent ruling in their state. One mom in Independence, Missouri, Stephanie Newby, called it "stupid."

"I think there should be more instead of taking it away, because what’s next?" Newby said. "You know, are they going to take away more stuff and let them pass out candy to people?"

Arthur Benson, a civil rights attorney, said he's surprised a ruling like this hasn't come down sooner.

"They cannot order you to say what the government wants said," Benson said. "It can’t require you to publish something that the government wants published, that’s a violation of your rights."

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey posted on X he planned to appeal the ruling immediately.

However, Benson doesn't think it will succeed.

"Winning on appeal requires that you understand the merits of the law, and in this case, the merits of the law clearly, I think, favor the sex offender," Benson said.

For now, Newby said she's going to take precautions into her own hands.

"At least we can pull up an app or website on our phone and still check it out," Newby said, referring to the Missouri Sex Offender Registry. "So we’re still going to be doing that."

This story was originally published by Caroline Hogan at Scripps News Kansas City.