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 U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women awarded a $750,000 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program (CFDA 16.524) project grant to Project Safeguard, a Colorado-based non-profit organization. Through this grant, Project Safeguard will provide comprehensive civil and criminal legal services to adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the Metro Denver area. These services include legal consultation, limited or full representation, case analysis, paperwork assistance, and hearing preparation by staff attorneys, contract attorneys, and pro bono attorneys. The grant funding will enable Project Safeguard to assist victims with matters such as divorce, child custody, protection orders, employment, housing, and criminal justice proceedings related to the abuse.

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, project safeguard will provide unbundled legal services including legal consultation, limited and/or full representation, case analysis sessions, paperwork assistance, and hearing preparation to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking in metro denver, colorado. This will include support from staff attorneys with civil protection orders, domestic relations, and other civil legal matters; representation from contract attorneys in permanent civil protection order hearings; and legal advice from pro bono attorneys to victims interested in filing for dissolution of marriage and/or child custody.