Wis. Attorney General visits training on Wisconsin’s address confidentiality program

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Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul Thursday stopped by a training on the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of Crime Victim Services’ address confidentiality program, Safe at Home, in Appleton, Wis.

Safe at Home provides a legal substitute address to be used for both public and private purposes to victims of or those threated with domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, and trafficking, or those who simply fear for their physical safety.

“Safe at Home helps people keep the location of their residence private,” said Kaul.

“This program provides greater security and peace of mind to those who face dangers to their safety,” he added.

According to WisDOJ officials, enrollment in Safe at Home allows participants to use and receive mail at an assigned address in lieu of their actual address. Safe at Home then forwards mail from the assigned address to participants’ actual addresses free of charge.

The program celebrated its seventh year running this Spring. There are currently 1,019 active households and 2,176 active participants enrolled in the Safe at Home program, according to officials.

A person is eligible to participate in Safe at Home if they attest to ALL of the following:
• That they are a resident of Wisconsin.
• That at least one of the following applies:
o They are a victim of an act or threat of abuse, a parent or guardian of a person who is a victim of an act or threat of abuse, or a resident of a household in which a victim of an act or threat of abuse also resides.
o They fear for their physical safety or for the physical safety of their child or ward.
• That they reside or will reside at a location in Wisconsin that is not known by the person who committed the abuse against, or who threatens, the applicant or their child or ward.
• That they will not disclose their actual address to the person who committed the abuse against, or who threatens, the applicant or their child or ward.

Individuals who enroll in Safe at Home first must participate in safety planning with an application assistant. Application assistants are trained victim service providers and advocates designated by Safe at Home to provide education about meaningful participation in the program and safety planning services.

Officials noted Thursday’s training is designed to raise awareness of the program and how it works for participants when engaging with system collaborators such as advocates, social services providers, partners in the legal system, healthcare workers, government employees, school administrators, or just about anyone else who may encounter a Safe at Home participant at some point. Organizations interested in holding a Safe at Home presentation can contact [email protected].

Safe at Home is governed by Wis. Stat. § 165.68, which may be found at https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/165/68.