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News from Across the Border
(ACP) Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence
The Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) provides services
to residents of Washington State. It began in 1991 and is
administered by the Office of the Secretary of State. The
ACP goal is to help domestic violence victims keep their relocation
secret. Victims who have permanently left an abusive situation
may apply. The former victim's new location must be unknown
to the offender.
The ACP offers two service components. Each helps keep the
victim's new location secret in a different way. One part
allows use of a substitute mailing address. Through use of
this address, participants receive cost-free, security mail
forwarding. The Secretary of State serves as each client's
legal agent for receipt of mail and service of process.
Program participants are given ACP identification card that
includes their name, signature, birthdate, ACP code number,
and ACP substitute address. ACP participants may use the ACP
address when creating records with state and local agencies.
State and local agencies must accept the ACP substitute address
as though it is a citizen's actual, residential address.
Another part of the program prevents public access to information
about ACP clients in certain government records.The ACP Protected
Records program provides complete confidentiality for voting
and marriage records. ACP participants, who must request ACP
Protected Records services from county government officials,
receive security record handling from their county auditor's
office, the Department of Health and the Office of the Secretary
of State.
Applications are completed in person at a community-based
victims assistance program. ACP staff will make a referral
to a local program that provides ACP application assistance.
There are programs accessible throughout the state. The application
process involves meeting with a victims's assistance counsellor
and receiving orientation information about the program. Completed
applications are forwarded to the ACP office in Olympia.
If you have questions about the ACP, please direct written
questions or requests for more information to:
Address Confidentiality Program,
P.O. Box 69,
Olympia, WA. 98507-0069.
Ph: (206) 753-2972
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