ACP Overview

What are Address Confidentiality Programs (ACPs)?

ACPs attempt to provide both safety for survivors of IPV and restore survivors’ rights to take part in society. These programs anonymize survivors’ addresses in public records, thereby balancing the requirements of government transparency with the needs of IPV survivors. Some states call their ACPs “Safe at Home” programs.

There is a strong need for ACPs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 10 million people experience IPV each year, and one in four women have experienced sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

For survivors, the fear that their abusers may find them prevents them from creating public records with their addresses on them, such as registering to vote. The accessibility of survivors’ addresses on public records, which can also include other records such as getting a driver’s or marriage license or a child’s school registration, poses a real concern to individuals seeking protection from abusers.

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Our hope is that this website helps provide information both for survivors about their state's program and to program directors and advocates who may be interested in learning about other states' programs to improve their own.