Operation Blackout Preliminary Stats - Knoxville

KNOXVILLE – In an effort to keep Tennessee children safe this Halloween night, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) continued its visits to the homes of thousands of high-risk sex offenders. Operation Blackout began on October 21 with probation and parole officers conducting home checks on more than 3,500 sex offenders in order to increase the safety of trick-or-treaters.  On Halloween night, officers paid visits to 76 people in District 20, which includes the communities of Knoxville.  

“Every day our officers hold nearly 80-thousand offenders accountable to the conditions of their parole,” says Acting Assistant Commissioner Lisa Helton.  “Operation Blackout is an additional layer of supervision for our highest risk offenders to ensure that we do absolutely everything we can to protect the communities in which we live.”

At this time (11 pm EST), all 76 of the Knoxville area checks have been completed.  Officers will continue checks throughout the night across the state.  Final numbers will be shared later this week.