A group of sex offenders in Georgia is suing the Butts County Sheriff’s office for posting “No Trick-or-Treat” signs on the lawns of their residences.

The Butts County Sheriff said he is using the signs to keep kids safe. The sex offenders argued they are a violation of their rights to free speech and privacy

The initiative began last year when Butts County Sheriff Gary Long directed deputies to place “Warning! No Trick-or-Treat at this address!!” signs in the front yards of over 200 sex offenders registered in the county from October 24 to November 2. The sheriff’s office plans to use the same tactic again this year, and three registered sex offenders have filed suit.

Sheriff Gary Long said he had instituted the signs as a result of the cancellation of a local Halloween festival, “Halloween on the Square,” and the subsequent influx of door-to-door trick-or-treaters. He said they had been following Georgia law and protecting children when they implemented the public warnings.

The sex offenders attorney argued that since the Georgia State Sex Offender Registry does not require offenders to post these signs, they shouldn’t be forced by local deputies to have them displayed outside.

Sheriff Long said that regardless of the judge’s ruling on the matter this Thursday, he would do everything within the law to protect the community’s children.

Other counties in Georgia also used the “No Trick-or-Treat” signs, such as Monroe and Lamar counties. In Monroe County, if an offender didn’t want a sign in their yard, they had to wait in the lobby of the local sheriff’s office during trick-or-treat hours on Halloween.