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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation (S.5444/A.7515) yesterday allowing victims of sexual offenses, stalking and human trafficking to participate in the Department of State's Address Confidentiality Program. The program allows victims to keep their address hidden from their perpetrators by using a substitute address provided by the Department of State in lieu of their actual home, school or work address. The bill will take effect 90 days after becoming law.

"Victims of heinous crimes like sexual assault and human trafficking should not have to live in constant fear that their assailant could find and potentially hurt them again," Cuomo said. "By signing this legislation into law we will help protect survivors from further abuse by shielding their address from public view and hopefully provide a measure of comfort as they move forward with their lives."

Under the previous law, only victims of domestic violence were eligible to participate in the Address Confidentiality Program. However, many victims of sexual offenses, stalking or human trafficking also have a need for the benefits of an address confidentiality program because they often attempt to evade actual or threatened violence by moving to a new address in order to hide from an assailant or potential assailant. By offering victims of sexual offenses, stalking and human trafficking the benefits of the Address Confidentiality Program, this legislation will help protect them from violence by helping them keep their actual addresses confidential.

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