Michigan launches ADDRESS program for victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault
Michigan’s Program for the Protection of Sexual Assault Victims and Others
Michigan has a new program to protect victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault that Attorney General Dana Nessel says will help hold those responsible accountable.
Southfield, Mich. (FOX 2) – Michigan has a new program that will protect victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault by allowing them to hide their addresses from everyone but the state.
launched by the state Address Privacy Program (ACP) is based on a bill that was passed by the Legislature in 2020. By registering, you are allowing the state to protect your physical address from the public. Only government agencies know. But – there is a need.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said, “It’s not just that they think they want to ghost somebody, you have to commit to getting into the program.
You must move or plan to move to qualify as pre-existing addresses may already be compromised. You must also be at least 18 years old or be an emancipated minor, or be the parent or guardian on behalf of a minor or ward.
The goal is simple: to ensure that victims are not reanimated.
“We can make sure that a person is held accountable. We can make sure in many cases that a person is sentenced to jail or prison if he deserves that sentence. But ultimately, that person is going to be released. And then what? ” Nessel Dr. “We survivors of violent crime want to say what should we do now and what should we say, ‘If he starts harassing you again, tell us, if he starts harassing you, tell us, tell us to kill you. Trying. We don’t want people to be in that situation. We want people to feel as safe as possible.”
It’s about creating a protection plan for victims so they’re still able to do things like vote.
“We don’t want to see people, because they have the terrible misfortune of being victims of crime and feeling like they can’t participate in their government or get government services,” Nessel said. “The address that will be used for your government services will be an address provided to you by the State of Michigan. This is not a real address. It is actually a mail forwarding address used by our department, DTMB, Bureau of Elections and other agencies to ensure that you have your Getting mail, but doing it securely.”
Participants also receive a guidebook on how to vote, how to change their address, school and busing information, and what to do when contacting the police or emergency services.
