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

Through the Department of Justice's Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program (CFDA 16.524), Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance (MMLA) and its partners will provide $750,000 in comprehensive civil and criminal legal services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in 21 counties across central Minnesota. The 3-year project, beginning October 1, 2023, will offer holistic legal representation in matters such as family law, immigration, housing, public benefits, crime victim rights, and other civil legal issues relating to or arising from the abuse or violence. Key project deliverables include a legal check-up tool to improve identification of issues faced by sexual violence victims, a brochure to inform victims of available services, and outreach materials to reach this population. Through the grant, MMLA will partner with legal aid, victim service, and community organizations to enhance access to critical legal assistance for victims.

The legal assistance for victims (LAV) grant program, authorized by 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, mid-minnesota legal assistance, in partnership with central minnesota legal services, central minnesota sexual assault center, community-university health care center, and asian women united of minnesota, will provide holistic legal representation to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in family law, immigration, housing, public benefits, crime victim rights, and other civil legal matters in 21 counties across central minnesota. The project will address priority area 2: increasing legal services to victims of sexual assault. The following products will be developed during the project period: legal check-up tool to improve identification of issues faced by victims of sexual violence; a brochure to inform victims of services and points of access; and outreach materials to reach sexual violence victims.