State helps domestic-violence victims maintain anonymity

Barry Massey | The Associated Press

10/25/2007 -

Victims of domestic violence can have their mail delivered confidentially through a new program offered by the state.

The goal is to reduce the risk that abusers will track down their victims, such as a spouse or former spouse, who has moved to a new location. Currently, an abuser might be able to use some public records or the Internet to find a victim's address.

Secretary of State Mary Herrera's office administers the new program, which was approved by the Legislature and Gov. Bill Richardson this year. About two dozen states offer similar confidential address programs.

People who participate in the program will have first-class, registered and certified mail delivered to a post office box, and the Secretary of State's Office will forward the mail to the individual's real address. The program will handle subpoenas and legal summons, but magazines, junk mail and packages will not be covered.

"The use of the fictitious address maintains the victim's confidentiality and relieves those agencies and businesses of the difficult and costly responsibility of maintaining confidential records," said Herrera at a news conference Thursday to outline the program.

Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking can register for the program through assistance groups, shelters and some state agencies.

A one-time $75 fee is charged to register for the program, but that fee can be waived for those who can't afford it.

Participants in the program will be allowed to vote by mail with an absentee ballot. The person's name won't appear on voter registration records available to the public.

Participants and their children will receive a card indicating they have a confidential address. A student would not be required to disclose a parent's address when enrolling, for example.

Reps. Al Park, an Albuquerque Democrat, and Nathan Cote, a Las Cruces Democrat, said the program offers an opportunity for victims of domestic violence to escape their abusers.

"It takes so much courage to leave a family situation where you are the victim of domestic violence. What we're hoping to do with this program is provide them with safety and insulation from their abuser," said Park, who advocated legislation for several years to establish a confidential address program.

Cote said he sponsored the legislation this year because he met a domestic violence victim from his district who had been battered by her husband, and the injuries required hospitalization.

Sharon Pino, the governor's domestic violence czar, said, "The most difficult time and most dangerous time in a victim's life is when they choose to leave a domestic violence situation."