October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to mourn those who have died because of domestic violence, celebrate those who have survived, and connect those who work to end violence.
Domestic violence takes many forms. It can include threats of violence, verbal attacks, and other forms of intimidation (possessiveness and controlling behavior, punching, slapping, pushing and grabbing) and can ultimately lead to rape or murder. Domestic violence significantly impacts the criminal justice system. Many of the crimes committed are a direct result of intimate partner violence.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to mourn those who have died because of domestic violence, celebrate those who have survived, and connect those who work to end violence.
Domestic violence takes many forms. It can include threats of violence, verbal attacks, and other forms of intimidation (possessiveness and controlling behavior, punching, slapping, pushing and grabbing) and can ultimately lead to rape or murder. Domestic violence significantly impacts the criminal justice system. Many of the crimes committed are a direct result of intimate partner violence.
Domestic violence is one of the most critical public health issues facing women and children today. Every member of our society feels its impact. Domestic violence does not discriminate. It affects men, women, and children of all races, religions, cultures, and sexual orientation, regardless of where they live or their economic status.
Whether it is on the larger scale of government-sponsored prevention efforts, or nonprofit agencies working together with individuals, every person must commit to preventing domestic violence and bringing hope and healing to those affected by it.
Too often, children who are subjected to domestic violence grow up and inflict violence on others, continuing the cycle of violence. The cycle of violence is not limited to a single relationship; it travels from one relationship to the next, and from one generation to the next.
Confidential address programs like Safe at Home help survivors of domestic violence re-establish their lives in an environment free from violence and abuse.
Victims of domestic violence can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 for more information and assistance.
Safe at Home History
Safe at Home (SAH), California’s confidential address program, was established by SB 489 in 1998 and was enhanced by legislation twice in 2000 to allow confidential name changes (AB 205) and enrollment of stalking victims (SB 1318); in 2002 to include reproductive health care employees, volunteers, and patients (AB 797); and in 2003 to permit DMV records to be suppressed (AB 184). In 2006, bills were enacted to extend the program to 2013 (SB 1069); remove the requirement that program participants doing a confidential name change have that name published (SB 1743); and allow victims of sexual assault to enroll in SAH beginning January 1, 2007 (SB 1062).
SAH is a highly sensitive and confidential program with strict timelines for mail processing and service of process, which provides additional layers of protection for participants who are at risk of continued abuse or stalking. SAH participants have access to additional services such as confidential name change, DMV and school records suppression, car smog processing, and confidential voter registration.
Since its inception, SAH has helped nearly 4,000 victims begin new lives free of fear. The impact of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault on individuals, their families, and our communities has long-term consequences. The sooner victims and their families can feel safe and protected from their abusers and attackers, the quicker they can return to productive lives and stop the long-term impact of abuse.
There are currently 32 states with confidential mail-forwarding programs, several of which have included sexual assault victims as participants. California’s SAH is the most extensive confidential address program of all states and is a role model for states wanting to start new confidential address programs.
For more information on California’s Safe at Home program, visit
For information on confidential address programs in other states, visit
http://www.casafeathome.org/Safe_at_Home_State_Programs.htm
2007 Safe at Home Statistics
Number of participants served between 1999 and 2007:
3,784
Percentage of participants who are women:
52%
Percentage of participants who are men:
5.5%
Percentage of participants who are children:
42.5%
Mail pieces forwarded in 2007:
330,000 pieces
Counties with highest enrollment:
Los Angeles [411]
Orange [250]
San Diego [230]
Sacramento [178]
Alameda [112]
In 2008, the Safe at Home program has seen a 41% increase in applications.
New Confidential Voter Registration Form
Confidential voter registration is one of Safe at Home’s greatest benefits! The deadline to register to vote in the November 4 election is October 20.
On August 21, 2008, Safe at Home sent voter registration cards and related information to all adult program participants in an effort to boost voter registration and participation. The response has been outstanding!
The new Safe at Home confidential voter registration card helps Safe at Home participants maintain the confidentiality of their home addresses by providing a layer of protection at the county elections offices, where the cards are filed in a secure and confidential location apart from other voter registration forms. The participants' address data is never entered into the public voter registration file, which is sometimes purchased by groups for scholarly or governmental purposes.
The confidential voter registration card, which was designed specifically for Safe at Home, is available in seven languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Only participants of the program can register using the cards and program participation is verified before the county registrar accepts the registration.
Every new qualified enrollee receives a voter registration card when they enroll. New cards are also issued to participants when they move or request a card. Participants can also register to vote at a county elections office by providing proof of current Safe at Home program enrollment (a current SAH ID card) and a current picture ID. For security purposes, it is recommended that SAH participants register using the SAH confidential voter registration card only.
The Secretary of State appreciates the continued support of county clerks and registrars of voters in helping survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault to participate in the democratic process.
If you have any questions about the SAH voter registration card, call (877)-322-5227 or by email at safathome@sos.ca.gov.
And remember to vote on election day, November 4, 2008.
Confidential Name Change Process
One of the many services offered by the Safe At Home (SAH) program is the filing of confidential name changes through a California Superior Court.
A confidential name change is different from a regular name change in that the new name is not listed in court records or the newspaper. Under a law authored by Secretary of State Debra Bowen when she was a legislator, SAH participants are no longer required to publish their previous names in local newspapers.
The confidential name change process begins with a SAH participant filing a SAH Intent of Name Change form. The form, which is not a public document, lists both the old and new name and is required to be on file with the SAH office prior to petitioning the court. Once the SAH participant has filed the form with SAH and goes to court, she or he will be instructed to complete a petition using the following statement under the new name section, “Confidential, on file with the Secretary of State’s Office.” The court will then verify with the SAH office that the participant has
filed an Intent of Name Change form before granting the confidential name change.
Once the participant receives the stamped and signed court decree, a copy or an extra original must be forwarded immediately to SAH. A new certificate of SAH enrollment and SAH ID card will be given to the participant. SAH also will provide a “new name packet” with the necessary information and guidelines for updating other records. The Social Security Administration provides an additional layer of protection by granting a new social security number to qualified SAH participants, which is highly recommended after confidential name changes.
It is important to note that the new confidential name is only on file with the SAH office. By law, paper and electronic file copies of the court and SAH documents are kept on file under strict security measures.
Occasionally, SAH receives requests from former participants for a copy of their Intent of Name Change form or court documents in order to obtain passports, old school records, or other important documents that are under their previous name. These requests must be submitted in writing and the former participant must provide all the pertinent information related to their case/file in order for SAH to confirm the information is released only to the former participant.
For more information on this and other SAH-related laws, go to http://www.casafeathome.org/Safe_at_Home_legislation.htm
New Safe at Home Enrolling Agencies
| Peace Over Violence www.peaceoverviolence.org |
Los Angeles, CA | (213) 955-9090 |
|---|---|---|
| Peace for Families | Auburn, CA | (530) 889-8510 |
| Kern County Probation Dept- Victim Witness Assistance Program |
Bakersfield, CA | (661) 868-4535 |
| Sure Helpline Crisis Center www.surehelpline.org |
El Centro , CA | (760) 352-7873 |
| Asian Americans for Community Involvement www.aaci.org |
San Jose, CA | (408) 975-2730 |
| Community Service Programs- District Attorney Office |
Santa Ana , CA | (714) 347-8583 |
Upcoming Safe At Home Events
| DVAM (Domestic Violence Awareness Month Press Conference) West steps of the Capitol, Sacramento, (11a.m.-12p.m.) |
October 1 |
|---|---|
| DVAM (Domestic Violence Awareness Month Press Conference) CalEPA Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, (8a.m.-4p.m.) |
October 1 |
| National College of District Attorneys Town and Country Hotel, San Diego |
October 4-7 |
| American Diabetes Association West steps of the Capitol, Sacramento, (8a.m.-4p.m.) |
October 11 |
| WEAVE's 30th Anniversary Gala Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J Street, Sacramento, (6p.m.-Midnight) |
October 18 |
| The First Lady's Conference on Women 300 East Ocean Blvd., Long Beach , (All Day) |
October 22 |
| UC Davis National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect Hyatt Regency Hotel, Sacramento, (8a.m.-4:30p.m.) |
October 27 |
| Sexual Assualt Workshop by California District Attorneys Association 921 11th Street, Suite 300, Sacramento, (8a.m.-1p.m.) |
October 30 |
Safe at Home expanded its outreach efforts in January 2007 with an e-newsletter. If you have questions about the program, would like to be added to the SAH e-newsletter distribution list; would like to recommend a topic to be included in the next publication, or schedule an enrolling agency training in your area, please call (877)-322-5227 or email safeathome@sos.ca.gov.
(If you do not want to receive this e-newsletter, please click on this link to remove your name and contact information from our mailing list.)