The legal assistance for victims (LAV) grant program, authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20121, is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and…

Through the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program (CFDA 16.524) administered by the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice (LACLJ) was awarded a $600,000 project grant to provide comprehensive civil and criminal legal services to underserved, low-income survivors of sexual assault in Los Angeles County, California.

Under this 2-year grant, LACLJ will partner with several local organizations to deliver a range of legal assistance, including advice/counsel and representation for domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders, civil and criminal justice advocacy, immigration matters such as U- and T-visas, and family law cases involving dissolution, paternity, and child custody/visitation/support. At least 80% of the funded activities will focus on legal services for victims of non-intimate partner sexual assault. LACLJ will conduct an initial needs assessment to determine if any specific products need to be developed as part of this project.

The legal assistance for victims (LAV) grant program, authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20121, is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and youth (ages 11 to 24) victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault by providing funds for comprehensive direct legal services to victims in legal matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence. Legal assistance is assistance in: a) divorce, parental rights, child support, tribal, territorial, immigration, employment, administrative agency, housing, campus, education, healthcare, privacy, contract, consumer, civil rights, protection or other injunctive proceedings, related enforcement proceedings, and other similar matters; b) criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, and post-conviction matters (including sentencing, parole, and probation) that impact the victims safety, privacy, or other interests as a victim; c) alternative dispute resolution, restorative practices, or other processes intended to promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy, and offender accountability, regardless of court involvement; or d) post-conviction relief proceedings in state, local, tribal, or territorial court with respect to a conviction of a victim relating to or arising from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or SEX trafficking victimization of the victim. Through this continuation legal assistance for victims project, LOS angeles center for law and justice, in partnership with downtown womens center, east LOS angeles womens center, central bureau family justice center, strength united, the wall-LAS memorias project, and ywca greater LOS angeles, will provide advice/counsel and legal representation in various matters such as domestic violence and civil harassment restraining order applications, civil and criminal justice advocacy (e.g., accompaniment to law enforcement interviews or ensuring victim accommodations), representation in immigration matters (e.g., u- and t-visas or vawa), and family law issues (e.g., dissolution, paternity, and child custody/visitation/support) to underserved low-income survivors of sexual assault in LOS angeles county, california. The project will address priority area 2: increasing legal services to victims of sexual assault, with legal services for victims of non-intimate partner sexual assault comprising at least 80% of funded activities. Project partners will determine the need for developing specific products after an initial needs assessment is conducted following the first quarterly project meeting.