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Welcome to Whack-a-Sex-Offender, the game in which government officials get as crazy as they wanna be to show just how tough they are on sex offenders! Check out the latest news from New Jersey. In case you don't want to bother reading the article, here are some excerpts:

The state Parole Board yesterday reimposed a curfew prohibiting registered sex offenders from opening their doors during trick-or-treating hours. If a parole officer or other law enforcement official comes knocking, though, the offenders are ordered to let them in.

Sex offenders also are forbidden from attending Halloween parties, from going trick-or-treating, and from wearing any costume that obscures their identity.

Any offender who is spotted handing out candy could be cited for a parole violation and sent back to jail for up to 24 months.

The curfew - which will be imposed on about 2,200 sex offenders - will run from 3 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday. The Parole Board will make exceptions if the offender needs to go to work. If a community holds Halloween events on a different day, the same rules will be in effect.

You'd figure that this was all to prevent sex offenders from, you know, re-offending. Not so!

"The purpose is to prevent people with sex offenses in their past from making initial contacts with potential victims," said John D'Amico, the chairman of the Parole Board.

At least Mr. D'Amico is honest about the prospects of these restrictions actually protecting anyone.

D'Amico said that there had never been any reported assaults against children by registered sex offenders on Halloween.

But, D'Amico said, Halloween events could allow a sex offender to establish a relationship with a child that would foster trust and later result in an assault.

Man...you couldn't pay for better theatre.