Revised October 2, 2023
The Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) protects the address of persons attempting to escape from domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, or stalking situations. Criminal Justice Affiliates, Election Officials and Protected Health Care workers may also participate in the program. Participants may use a substitute address, issued by the Secretary of State, in place of their actual physical address. State and local agencies can then respond to public records requests without disclosing the actual location of the participant.
Rules for ACP are found in WAC 434-840-001 through WAC 434-840-310 and are governed by the Office of the Secretary of State.
The ACP provides the following services:
NOTE: ACP works best if the participant has relocated to a location not already in public record.
Participants are given an authorization card the size of a driver's license. The card has the participant's name, substitute address, birth date, expiration date, and a toll-free number to the ACP office for information. The toll-free number is 1-800-822-1065. The TTY number is 1-800-664-9677.
When a public assistance client requests use of the substitute address, the ACP authorization card must be presented to the worker. The worker may make a copy of the ACP authorization card.
When a client states they are in danger or fleeing an abuser but are not enrolled in ACP advise the client that, if they provide their physical address to the department or any state agency, they will not be able to remove the address if they later on enroll in ACP. They have the option to wait to provide the department their physical address until approved for enrollment in ACP.
When a client presents an ACP authorization card or states they are enrolled in ACP and have an assigned Private Mail Box (PMB) address:
NOTE: If the individual doesn't have their authorization card, government agencies may call the ACP office at 1-800- 822-1065, or (360) 753-2972 to verify that the individual is an active ACP participant.
If the client wants more information about ACP:
A trained advocate will assist individuals with the ACP application. The advocate will assist the individual with additional safety planning prior to enrolling in the program. For a current list of advocates trained in your community to sign up people for ACP, to to https://www.sos.wa.gov/statewide-programs/address-confidentiality-program-acp and click on the map for your location.
The department is responsible for ensuring that confidential information is not released to clients or third parties inappropriately or illegally. Confidential information can be disclosed only under the specific criteria in chapter 388-01 WAC.
Policies related to disclosure of confidential information are contained in chapter 388-01 WAC and in departmental administrative policies. The CSO Public Disclosure Coordinator is responsible for approving or denying requests for disclosure of confidential information.
Disclosing Information to Parents with Visitation Rights or Legal Custody