ALBANY – New York’s governor on Thursday signed a law that will allow sex crime and stalking victims to hide their home addresses from public view, making it harder for their abusers to find out where they live.
The new law expands a state address confidentiality program that had already existed for domestic violence survivors. It allows victims to use a substitute address provided by New York’s Department of State on certain official records, instead of their actual home, work or school address.
“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,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said in a statement.
The law takes effect in 90 days and also applies to victims of human trafficking.
Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz noted the program has been “vitally important” to domestic violence survivors and the expansion will aid in protecting “society’s most vulnerable members.”
State Sen. Julia Salazar of Brooklyn says the law will stop future physical violence and emotional harm while providing victims “the peace of mind they need and deserve.”
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