Next Monday, little ghost, goblins and black cats will be going door to door looking for treats. Every year, Halloween forces us to think about who our neighbors really are.

Last Halloween, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office went door to door, reminding the 648 registered sex offenders that they aren't able to pass out treats.

The purpose of the program is to verify 648 sex offenders' addresses and contact information. But for the first time, they're not doing it on Halloween.

"One of the reasons we do this is to raise awareness," said Captain Kristjan Rahe, of the Sheriff's Office. "Everyone knows we go out every Halloween, so what better way to surprise people than to come out a day early?"

Eyewitness News rode along with Deputy Prince Newsome, who had a stack of about 40 sex offenders to check up on, including many with offenses against children, like Jermaine Dixon, who is legally prohibited from giving out candy during trick or treating.

"It bothers me, but I understand where they're coming from," Dixon said.

Newsome pointed out that because Halloween is on Sunday, many families won't want to go trick-or-treating because of church, and because it's a school night. Our crews noticed many children celebrating the holiday on Saturday night.

"Parents should always be standing on the sidewalk if their children participate in Halloween," Newsome said.

Many sex offenders said that after getting a knock on the door every year, they'd rather not participate, even if they legally can.

"I just sit back and look at TV, and wait for the day to go by," said registered sex offender William Norman.

Some people wonder if this is a violations of civil liberties of the sex offenders.

In 2008, the ACLU took on a law in Missouri that banned sex offenders from passing out candy on Halloween. And the group won a slight victory:

A federal judge has ruled that parts of Missouri's new law restricting registered sex offenders' actions on Halloween night are unenforceable, saying the law lacked clarity and could cause confusion for sex offenders and those charged with enforcing

The law, signed by Gov. Matt Blunt in June, requires that sex offenders avoid all Halloween-related contact with children from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. It requires them to remain inside their homes with the outside lights off and to post a sign saying they have no candy.

A violation is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail.

After hearing arguments in a case brought by four sex offenders, U.S. District Judge Carol Jackson on Monday granted a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of some parts of the law.

But in Maryland, Sex offenders must post a sign on their doors alerting parents and trick-or-treaters about their crime.

"By making a commitment to refrain from participating in Halloween activities, you will enable the children and parents in your neighborhood to enjoy the holiday without undue anxiety," said the letter signed by Patrick McGee, Director of the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation. "In addition, you will also protect yourself from misunderstandings and the allegations that may arise from them."

At the end of the day, parents have the ultimate responsibility to keep their kids safe on Halloween — not just from sex offenders but all of the dangers on Charlotte streets on Halloween.