Maryland probation and parole officials have made a slight change to the sign that child sex offenders will be required to display on their doors on Halloween.
Signs sent to 1,200 offenders earlier this month show an orange pumpkin and the words "No candy at this residence." Now the state is giving the offenders the option of displaying a sign with the same words but without a pumpkin.
Correctional services spokesman Rick Binetti says the change is not an admission that the original sign doesn't work. He adds that jokes that aired recently on late-night television programs didn't drive the decision to remove the pumpkin image.
Maryland sex offenders who do not stay home on Halloween and post one sign or the other could be charged with a violation of parole.
