July 19, 2011 > Privacy protections for domestic violence and sexual assault victims Privacy protections for domestic violence and sexual assault victims Submitted By Teala Schaff Legislation by Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett (D-San Leandro) giving domestic abuse and sexual assault victims greater privacy protections passed the Assembly on July 14, 2011. "Each day we're reminded of the traumatic suffering of victims of domestic and sexual violence," Corbett said. "This bill gives further protections to victims by safeguarding their personal identifying information on the Internet." SB 636, Privacy Protection for Safe at Home Participants, will now go to the Senate for concurrence. Domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault affects millions of Americans each year and afflict people of every ethnicity, race, age, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. Survivors of these terrible crimes often continue to live in fear. Even after moving away from an abusive partner or predator, survivors can put themselves or their family members at risk by opening a bank account, getting a driver's license or enrolling a child in school. SB 636 provides further protection to victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault who enter into the state's Safe at Home Program. The legislation prohibits participants' personal information from being posted on the Internet and establishes crimes for sites that fail to comply. Safe at Home is a confidentiality program administered by the California Secretary of State's Office that offers victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault anonymity and a new start towards a fear-free future. Since 1999, California's Safe at Home Program has helped protect the personal information of more than 4,500 survivors of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault. For more information, visit www.sen.ca.gov/corbett