Auroraadvocate.com - Bill would hide violence victims' addresses

by Marc Kovac

Capital Bureau Chief

Columbus -- Victims of domestic violence could have their address information shielded from public view under legislation to be introduced by a state lawmaker.

Rep. Kathleen Chandler (D-Kent) said she has been developing the bill with Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner after hearing from constituents who were victims of domestic violence.

One was afraid to register to vote, fearing an ex-spouse would find her if she did.

"It's hard to imagine living day to day fearful that a perpetrator might discover where you live and to worry about harm to themselves and their children," Chandler said.

"Although we cannot guarantee those persons' safety, this bill goes a long way to providing a greater comfort to victims."

The legislation would allow individuals who have been victims of violence or who are protected under court-issued orders to have their mail sent directly to the Secretary of State's Office.

That office, in turn, would forward the mail to participants, whose addresses would not be included in public records.

"Not only will [this bill] allow a person in fear for their and their children's safety to vote, it also will allow and provide for greater protection for those who live in fear," Chandler said.

THIRTY-SEVEN states have adopted comparable programs, which are administered by secretaries of state, attorneys general or nonprofit agencies.

Brunner said the program would cost an estimated $140,000 a year, with several hundred domestic violence victims expected to take part initially.

"Ohio has been hard hit on many fronts, and a program such as this offers affected women and their children, as well as affected men, the opportunity to live peacefully at a location of their choosing with the privacy of their whereabouts kept safe from their stalkers and abusers," Brunner said.

Nancy Neylon, executive director of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, supports the legislation.

"It allows victims to be active citizens without divulging their address -- their real and confidential address," she said.

"They'll be able to vote and participate in the system. We can provide a secure mail-forwarding address for them. ... They're not in hiding, they're able to live their lives safely and be able to participate fully."

She added, "It's not every victim that needs this protection, but absolutely for those victims that need this type of protection to be able to resolve the violence in their lives and live full active lives again, it is absolutely essential."

Kovac can be reached at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog. His Capital Blog can be found online at blogs.dixcdn.com/capitalblog/.