​The Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) provides an important service to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. The program has two basic parts. First, the ACP provides a substitute address for participants who have moved to a new location unknown to their perpetrator. The second part of the program provides participants with a free first-class confidential mail forwarding service. The ACP is not for everyone. A victim service professional from a domestic violence, sexual assault or a victim service program can help determine if the ACP is right for the victim as part of their safety plan.

Strategies for Employers

1. Develop a detailed policy and plan on violence within the workplace.
2. Recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse and any signs of an abuser.
3. Provide a supportive workplace environment through educational programs, displaying posters, and ensuring the availability of brochures from local victim service agencies.
 
4. Accept the ACP substitute address as the employer’s official address.
 
 5. Know your local, state and national resources.

 Providing a supportive workplace environment through education and prevention programs helps all your employees. An employer can maintain a safe and supportive environment for an employee to disclose their abuse and get some help. Co-workers can feel comfortable supporting someone who may be in an abusive relationship.

​If you visit a county assistance office for services such as food stamps or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), you should use your ACP address. Show the county assistance office your ACP card to let them know that you are enrolled in the program. The county office may need to call ACP to verify your enrollment. They may also verify that you are seeking services from the correct county.

​Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and persons who live in the same household as the victim may apply to participate in the ACP. The ACP will determine if the applicant meets the requirements for participation. Applicants should have moved or be moving to a new address that is unknown to the perpetrator.

​The Domestic and Sexual Violence Victim Address Confidentiality Act (23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 6701 et seq) created the Pennsylvania Address Confidentiality Program (ACP). The ACP provides an important service to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or stalking by providing a legal substitute address for victims who have moved to a new location unknown to their perpetrator. State and local government agencies are required to use the ACP substitute address as the participant’s legal address. Banks are now required to accept the substitute address, allowing participants to keep their physical address confidential. This letter will explain the requirements of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) ruling.

​The Office of Victim Advocate (OVA) and the Pennsylvania Department of State are working together to keep Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) participants’ addresses private. Participants cannot register to vote at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) or with other state agencies. Our program works directly with the county voter registration office. Before an election, ACP participants will receive a ballot and use this ballot to vote. The participant returns the ballot to the director at the county voter registration office.

​Applicants do not apply directly to the ACP. Application is made in person at a local domestic violence, sexual assault or victim service program located throughout the state. A parent or guardian can apply to the program on behalf of a minor or individual who is incapacitated. The application process involves meeting with a victim service professional who can help an applicant determine whether the ACP should be a part of the participant’s overall safety plan, explain the program services, explain the participant’s responsibilities and assist with the completion of the application materials. The applicant will mail the completed application to the ACP.

Most utility companies are private businesses and, therefore, do not have to accept an ACP address. However, many companies work to protect a participant's actual address the best way they can. Utility companies may require your residential address for service.

ACP participants may use the substitute address as the ACP participant’s actual address when applying to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) for the following:

​After acceptance into ACP, the participant will receive a packet of program information, which includes an ACP authorization card. The ACP card includes the participant’s name, signature, and their substitute address including their ACP number. Their substitute address is to be used as their private mailing address. It is the participant’s responsibility to tell state and local government agencies that they are a participant in the ACP. The participant’s enrollment will be effective for 3 years unless otherwise cancelled by the participant or the ACP before the expiration date.

The Domestic and Sexual Violence Victim Address Confidentiality Act, (Act 188 of 2004) established Pennsylvania's Address Confidentiality Program (ACP).

​The substitute address used by a participant is not related to their actual address. The address may be used by the participant for all first-class mail, registered and certified mail. The ACP does not forward magazines, packages or junk mail. The participant may also use the substitute address on all of their address return labels. An ACP participant should use the ACP substitute address every time they interact with state and local government agencies. The participant is safer when very few people know where they actually live. If the participant provides the state or local government their actual address, there is no guarantee it will remain confidential. It is important to understand that once enrolled in ACP, first class mail will be delayed 5-7 days from the date it was sent. Private companies such as department stores, utility companies, insurance companies and banks do not have to accept the substitute address. But many businesses are willing to do so. The participant should not hesitate to ask them to send all their mail to their ACP address.

​If the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) participant is a victim, witness, plaintiff or defendant involved in an ongoing civil or criminal case, the Office of Victim Advocate (OVA) will provide, after certification, notice of the ACP participant’s substitute address to appropriate court officials in which an ACP participant is a victim, witness, plaintiff or defendant. Appropriate officials may include, but may not be limited to, the county district attorney, clerks of court or other agencies with prosecutorial authority.

 
 If an ACP participant -- who is a victim, witness, plaintiff or defendant involved in an ongoing civil or criminal case -- cancels, withdraws or expires from ACP participation, OVA will provide notice to any appropriate court officials previously notified.

If you have any questions about the courts and ACP, please contact the ACP office at 1.800.563.6399.

​The ACP address is shared by all other ACP participants. Each participant is assigned a personal ACP #. The personal ACP # is what separates the participant from all the other ACP participants. The ACP participant must inform everyone who sends mail to them to use their ACP# when using the ACP address. Should a participant move or change their name, they need to call ACP as soon as possible. The participant may be cancelled from the program if they fail to notify ACP within 5 days of a change. Upon enrollment, an ACP participant should notify the United States Postal Service to have mail forwarded from their old address to the ACP substitute address. This is the only time an ACP participant should notify the United States Postal Service of their address change. If a participant changes their address/moves after being enrolled in ACP, they DO NOT notify the United States Postal Service of a change in their address. This will change the address of all the other participant’s in the program. When a participant signs the ACP application they designate OVA as their representative to receive mail and legal documents for them. A participant cannot avoid their legal responsibilities simply by refusing to accept mail the ACP forwards to them. Although ACP signs for certified documents, the participant is still responsible for any legal response or actions that may need to take place. ACP enrollment is effective for three (3) years. A program participant must reapply if they wish to continue in the program.

​After enrollment into ACP, 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 6701 et seq mandates a participant’s residential, work, and/or actual address to be confidential. Only under special circumstances can a participant‘s actual address be disclosed. These situations include:
• A state or local government agency requesting a waiver applies to the ACP to release a participant’s actual address.
• A court order directs OVA to release the participant’s address.
• In an extreme case of an emergency where a participant and/or family members are in danger.
• A participant is under investigation by law enforcement.
                
A state and local government agency may request a waiver for a participant’s actual address when the agency has an administrative need for the actual address and cannot meet its statutory or administrative obligations without disclosure of the participant’s actual address.

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The ACP may cancel a program participant’s eligibility if the participant:
•Provides false or incorrect information on their application to the ACP.
•Fails to notify the ACP of a change in address within five (5) days.
•Fails to notify the ACP of a name change within five (5) days.
•Mail is returned to ACP as non-deliverable.
•Fails to renew their application prior to the expiration date.
•No longer wants to be in the program; cancels their participation in the program.

If a participant is cancelled from ACP, they may reapply to the program by completing a new application.

​Yes. A person who is a member of the same household as the program participant may also use the ACP program. An adult cohabitant or child over age 18 must apply separately for ACP participant.

​All first-class mail, registered and certified mail is forwarded to participants. Magazines, packages and junk mail are not forwarded.

​The personal ACP number must be on all mail sent to the ACP participant. The personal ACP number is what separates each participant’s mail from the mail of all other participants. Everyone who sends mail to an ACP participant must be told to use the personal ACP number# following the participant’s name.

​The ACP program is unable to accept packages. Participants should make arrangements to have packages shipped to trusted family members or friends.

​Notify the ACP immediately at 1.800.563.6399.

​The ACP substitute address may be used whenever a participant’s home, work or school address is required by state and county government agencies. Their state and local government records are protected, making it difficult for perpetrators to find their victims by attempting to use public records.

​The ACP substitute address is accepted for court documents and government records such as driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations, voter registrations, school records, school enrollment, library cards, public welfare documents and the WIC program. When pending civil or criminal proceedings are documented by the victim on the ACP application, OVA notifies the court of the participant’s substitute address following enrollment into the ACP.

​The ACP participant should ask businesses such as banks, credit unions, credit card companies, insurance companies and utility companies if they will accept the substitute address. While they are not legally required to accept the ACP address, many are willing to do so.

​OVA is available to assist if ACP participants encounter organizations or businesses that are not familiar with the ACP or refuse to accept the substitute address. We will advocate on the behalf of participants as needed

​An ACP participant may choose a mailing address different from their residence address. However, the Office of Victim Advocate (OVA) must know the participant’s residence address and current phone number. OVA will forward mail to the mailing address chosen by the participant.

​Three years, unless the participant withdraws from the ACP or the Office of Victim Advocate cancels their participation. Two months prior to a participant's expiration date, the ACP will send a renewal application to complete if a participant wishes to continue in the program.

​The fact that a person is participating in the ACP is not confidential. If asked, the ACP will verify program participation and that the ACP substitute address is the legal mailing address of the participant. The actual address of the participant remains confidential.

​If a participant moves to a new address while enrolled in the program, the participant notifies the ACP of their address change by sending written notification of their new address to the ACP. The participant does NOT file a change of address with the United States Postal Service. (The ACP substitute address is a P.O. Box number that is shared by all other participants in the program. Changing the address at the post office while enrolled in the program would change the address of all participants.)

​The participant must send legal documentation of their name change to the ACP.

​Following enrollment into the ACP the participant will receive a welcome packet, which answers many questions about the ACP.

Examples include:
•How does an ACP participant apply for their driver’s license and vehicle registration?
•How do out of state license holders apply for a PA driver’s license?
•How does an ACP participant vote?
•What if an ACP participant wants to buy property?
•How does an ACP participant enroll their child in school?