Wisconsin Adds New Protections for Criminal Abuse Victims

 Abuse victims could obtain confidential mailing addresses from the state, under one of several bills signed by Gov. Scott Walker on Monday to help those affected by crime.

The Senate and Assembly passed the bipartisan proposal, SB 488, in February on voice votes and the Republican governor approved it Monday at Domestic Abuse Intervention Services in Madison.

The measure authorizes a confidential address program for the victims of crimes such as sexual assault and domestic abuse. Under the program, these victims will be able to receive an assigned address from the state Department of Justice, which will then forward the victim's mail from this assigned address to the victim's actual address.

Walker signed eight laws dealing with victims and the criminal justice system Monday.