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…

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 new legal assistance for victims project, monarch services-servicios monarca will provide legal support to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in santa cruz county, california, with a focus on south santa cruz county and survivors from the latinx community. Legal services will include: 1) protective order assistance, court accompaniment, and full representation; 2) legal advice, referrals, and legal representation in custody and other family law matters; 3) legal advice around immigration issues and assistance with U and T-visa applications and vawa self-petitions; and 4) identifying and navigating cases with complex legal issues and offering early legal intervention to survivors around significant safety concerns, criminal law intersections, or barriers to accessing foundational resources. The project will address priority area 3: underserved communities. The following products will be developed during the project period: legal advice handouts for protective order options; common family law issues; immigration remedies for survivors; and how-TOS for declaration drafting, preparing for a hearing, and for putting together support documentation for U and T-visa application packages and vawa self-petitions.