Domestic Violence Article


Arizona Address Confidentiality Program

This article discusses the Arizona Address Confidentiality Program, which help victims of domestic violence, sexual offenses, and/or stalking use a substitute mailing address whenever they interact with a state or local government agency so that perpetrators and others cannot use Arizona’s public records to find out where the victim is living or receiving their mail.

What is the Arizona Address Confidentiality Program?

The Arizona Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) helps victims of domestic violence, sexual offenses, and/or stalking keep the location of where they are living or receiving their mail confidential.

When was the ACP established?

The ACP was established by the Arizona legislature in 2012 when it was enacted into law under Chapter 3 of Title 41 of the Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) at A.R.S. § 41-161 et seq.

How does the ACP keep a victim’s location confidential?

The ACP lets victims use a substitute mailing address, so that anyone who searches for them through Arizona’s public records will be unable to find out where they are actually living or receiving their mail.

How does the ACP work?

Whenever a victim is asked to provide their address, they provide a substitute mailing address instead of their real address. Although this substitute mailing address is the address that appears in Arizona’s public records, any mail that is sent to the victim at that address is secretly forwarded to the victim’s real address. The substitute mailing address is good for 5 years.

How does a participant use the ACP?

A victim who participates in the ACP is provided with an ACP Authorization Card that they may present to state and local government agencies whenever they are asked to provide an address. The Authorization Card requires the state or local government agency to accept the substitute address so that the victim can keep their actual address to themselves.

The substitute address may be used in place of the victim’s home, work, school, or mailing address.

Examples of when a victim may show their ACP Authorization Card and use their substitute address include:

• Court papers

• Police reports

• Driver license/ID card/vehicle registration

• Social services (AHCCCS/SNAP/TANF/child support/etc.)

• Public schools

• Public library cards

• Voter registration

A state or local government agency employee who intentionally or knowingly discloses a victim’s real address or telephone number without authorization may be breaking the law and therefore guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Can the ACP accept service of process on behalf of a participant?

Yes. The ACP can act as a participant’s legal agent for service of process and can also accept and sign for other documents, including notices and demands.

Can a participant have their address removed from an existing public record?

Yes. But only from records that were created within the 90 days prior to the beginning of the victim’s participation in the ACP.

A victim who participates in the ACP may ask any state or local government agency to redact (remove or obscure) their real address from any agency record that was created up to 90 days before the victim began using a substitute address.

Who may participate in the ACP?

To participate in the ACP, a person must meet certain requirements. They must:

• Be a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense (such as rape, sexual assault, or molestation), and/or stalking

• Be in fear of their safety

• Either (a) have already moved within the past 90 days to a new location within Arizona that is unknown to the perpetrator of the domestic violence, sexual offense, and/or stalking OR (b) be planning to move in the near future to a new location within Arizona that is unknown to the perpetrator of the domestic violence, sexual offense, and/or stalking

• Have documentation showing that they are a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, and/or stalking

• Be at least 18 years old (or be the parent of a minor child acting on behalf of the child or the guardian of an incapacitated person acting on behalf of the incapacitated person)

How may a victim sign up to participate in the ACP?

A victim who is interested in participating in the ACP may not sign up themselves. Instead, they must meet – in person – with a registered Application Assistant.

What is an Application Assistant?

Application assistants are people who are specially trained to help victims learn if they can participate in the ACP and to help them sign up if they are. Application assistants are located throughout Arizona in organizations that provide counseling, referral, shelter, and/or assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual offenses, and stalking.

What does an Application Assistant do?

An Application Assistant:

• Describes for the victim how the ACP works and what the ACP does

• Explains to the victim what the responsibilities of ACP participants are

• Works with the victim to incorporate the ACP into the victim’s overall safety plan

• Helps the victim complete the ACP application, recommends the victim for approval, and forwards the victim’s application directly to the ACP

Where may I find a nearby Application Assistant?

A list of organizations throughout Arizona that have an Application Assistant on staff is available here: https://azsos.gov/services/acp/application-assistants

Is participating in the ACP free?

Yes. Participation in the ACP is free. In addition, the ACP accepts all First Class, registered, certified, and election mail on behalf of each participant and forwards it to the participant’s real address at no cost.

Who runs the ACP program?

The ACP is managed by the Office of the Arizona Secretary of State.

How may I learn more about the ACP?

If you would like to learn more about the ACP, you may:

• visit the ACP website: https://azsos.gov/services/acp

• email the ACP: [email protected]

• telephone the ACP: (602) 542-1653

• write to the ACP by mail: 1901 W. Madison St., Phoenix, AZ, 85009

DATE PUBLISHED: March 2020

Sources and further reading

State of Arizona – Address Confidentiality Program: https://azsos.gov/services/acp

Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence: https://www.acesdv.org

Arizona Supreme Court – Domestic Violence Information: https://www.azcourts.gov/domesticviolencelaw

Arizona Attorney General – Victim Services: https://www.azag.gov/criminal/victim-services

Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 44-162: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/41/00162.htm


Comments:

QUESTIONS

  • I'm 29 citizen of phoenix az. I have been thru a violent abused on my age of 8.9.10. Thru 16 . My dad was a domestic violence and and my mom let him violence fighting like I was another man, not his son.i help them with my five brothers younger, and clean up everithing . My dad was a violent person he have record even in mexico. Too violent with me and discriminate of been gay and much more staff. Do I have a right. He never help me . Never do nothing for me. He trough me from his house having no place to go after a remodel everithing. And didn't pay me nothing,can I take them to court for thi
  • I just found out that my son is on two restraining orders against each other how do i fix this mibe was filed FIRST
  • My son's father and his girlfriend had a domestic violence incident in his home where she broke glass, furniture, and physically assaulted him. The police came. My 5 year old son was in the home at the time. I would like to get a restraining order against her for my son. I don't want my son to be exposed to that again. She has also been harrassing me via hundreds of texts, phone calls, social media messages, etc. Do I have enough to file for a restraining order against her for my son? My concern is for my son's safety.
  • My mother recently tried to punch me and when she did so I blocked it and pushed her off of me, she says that I am legally obliged to let her discipline me as my parent, is this true?
  • I can't afford an attorney even through the modest means program & no one is willing to help me pro bono. I filed for divorce from my abusive husband & we reached a settlement agreement on 4/28/16. But he continues to use the judicial system to make false accusations against me & keep me in court. How can I stop this harassment, and why won't any attorneys help me pro bono? So many claim to be DV advocates but no one is advocating for me & my daugher.
  • I just got charged with two counts of domestic violence. I don't know weather an appeal will do anything or not also if I compleat everything the judge order how much would a set aside cost me or do I even have a chance
  • Our nephew from Denver has been ordered to take domestic violence classes. He is going to ask the court if he can come out here for a visit for a month, and he would like to continue his domestic violence classes out here while he is here. Is this possible if he gets permission from the courts in Denver?
  • If an order of protection was placed, does it show addresses, names, and phone numbers to the person being served?
  • I got granted temporary sole legal decision making of my daughter but during this case I got into a car accident with my other daughter, I was not the driver or passenger and had no illegal part in this accident. Now my daughters father is telling me he has temporary sole custody and I cannot see her at all. He has domestic violence and was told that sole custody was not an option in our case for him. He got a lawyer and we made a settlement so it would be easier for me because the accident ruined everything with my life and I signed it but she told us that we needed to get it notarized.
  • If an order of protection says that the defendant has to surrender his firearms to the Mesa PD, can he give them to a friend instead? Is this violating the order of protection?

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