Definitions

Application. Standard application form provided by the Program which must be completed by an applicant with an Application Assistant. Application Assistant. An employee of a state or local agency, or of a nonprofit program that provides counseling, referral, shelter or other specialized service to survivors of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, or stalking and who has been designated by the respective agency, and trained, accepted and registered by the Program Manager to assist individuals in the completion of Program participation applications. Certification. The process by which an applicant is determined eligible to participate in the Program. Identification Card. Card issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth to a Program Participant upon certification, which includes the Program Participant's name, identification number, a designated substitute address, certification expiration date, and signature. Identification Number. A number assigned to a Program Participant upon acceptance into the Program. Program. The Address Confidentiality Program established by M.G.L. c. 9A to provide designated addresses for survivors of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking or those engaged in legally-protected health care services for use by state and local agencies. The Program is not a witness protection program. Program Manager. An employee of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth designated by the Secretary to administer the Address Confidentiality Program. (Mass. Register #1498, 6/23/2023) Program Participant. A person certified by the Secretary of the Commonwealth to participate in the Address Confidentiality Program. Rape. As defined in M.G.L. c. 265, §§ 22, 22A, 22B, 22C and 23, 23A, 23B and M.G.L. c. 272, §§ 2, 4 and 17. Residential Address. Means the street name, street number, city or town, and zip code of the address where the Program Participant resides. Secretary. Means the State Secretary or the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Sexual Assault. As defined in M.G.L. c. 265, §§ 13B, 13B½, 13B¾, 13F, 13H, 24, 24B and M.G.L. c. 272, §§ 4A, 17, 29A, 29B and 35A. Stalking. As defined in M.G.L. c. 265, § 43. Substitute Addresses. The mailing and other addresses designated by the Secretary of the Commonwealth for use by Program Participants. The address is listed on the identification card.