State and area law enforcement agencies in the listening area will be out this Halloween checking for compliance on registered sex offenders in “Operation Blackout.” These people convicted of sex crimes have all signed a set of fall rules that prohibits them from participating in trick-or-treating. Sex offenders are not allowed to have their porch lights on, open their doors to anyone except law enforcement, to have fall decorations outside on their homes, wear costumes or attend fall festivals or parties. Here is a breakdown of how many sex offenders reside in counties in the area according to the state sex offender registry (rank, county, number of offenders):

1. CUMBERLAND – 128
2. PUTNAM – 119
3. ANDERSON – 118
4. McMINN – 115
5. ROANE – 109
6. LOUDON – 94
7. FENTRESS – 48
8. MEIGS – 38
9. OVERTON – 28

(Bledsoe and Morgan County was left out of the ranking because of high numbers of sex offenders in prison in both counties)

During the statewide sweep last year, corrections officers checked on 3,000 sex offenders and found 400 violations.