League City families planning trick-or-treating routes for Halloween can look up registered sex offenders in their neighborhoods for free using a state database.

The Texas Public Sex Offender Registry, maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), lets users search by address and view offender photos, addresses and offense details, KPRC 2 reported. The database covers communities across Texas, including the Greater Houston area.

Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31. Here is how to use the registry before heading out.

How to search the registry

Visit the Texas Public Sex Offender Registry at publicsite.dps.texas.gov. Follow the site's instructions and review its disclosure statement. Enter an address or use the other search options to find registered offenders nearby. Click individual records to see available details.

Under Texas law, sex offenders must register with the local law enforcement authority where they live, according to the DPS Sex Offender Registration Program page. That information feeds into the statewide database. DPS cautions that it cannot guarantee every record has been correctly matched to the person a user is seeking.

Not all offenders face Halloween restrictions

Not every person on the registry is automatically barred from Halloween activities, according to KPRC 2. Restrictions depend on an individual's parole or probation conditions and applicable local laws.

Safety tips for trick-or-treaters

DPS recommends families take several steps on Halloween night:

  • Stay with a trusted group and follow an agreed-upon route.
  • Visit only homes with porch lights on.
  • Never enter a stranger's home or vehicle.
  • Walk on sidewalks and use crosswalks.
  • Carry a flashlight or glow stick to stay visible to drivers.
  • Avoid costumes or masks that block vision.
  • Bring all candy home for an adult to inspect before eating.
  • Skip unwrapped treats.

Parents should accompany young children. Older kids should have a plan, stay in contact and know when to return home.

Tips for drivers and homeowners

Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a vehicle and killed on Halloween than on any other night of the year, according to the nonprofit Safe Kids Worldwide, as cited in a DPS safety bulletin published in October 2025.

DPS Homeland Security Division Chief Gerald Brown said in that bulletin, "Keeping Texas families safe starts with awareness and action."

Homeowners can help by turning on porch lights, clearing walkways, removing tripping hazards and using LED candles instead of open flames in decorations.

Drivers should slow down in neighborhoods, avoid distractions and plan a sober ride. Texas law prohibits using a portable wireless device to read, write or send an electronic message while driving unless the vehicle is stopped.

The registry is available around the clock at publicsite.dps.texas.gov.