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 has awarded a $600,000 Legal Assistance for Victims (CFDA 16.524) grant to Enlace Comunitario, a non-profit organization in Central New Mexico. This 3-year project grant, effective from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2026, will enable Enlace Comunitario, in partnership with the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, to provide holistic, culturally-specific legal representation and other comprehensive services to Spanish-speaking immigrant victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

Key services to be delivered include legal assistance for matters such as protection orders, divorce, child custody/support, housing, public benefits, consumer protection, and immigration. The project will also offer transitional housing, counseling, education, and other wraparound support to address the needs of this underserved population. By collaborating with justice system stakeholders and conducting community outreach, the project aims to improve access to culturally and linguistically appropriate legal aid and victim services across Bernalillo, Valencia, and Sandoval counties.

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, enlace comunitario, in partnership with the new mexico immigrant law center, will provide holistic, culturally specific legal representation for protection orders, divorce, child custody and support, housing, public benefits, consumer protection, and immigration matters to spanish-speaking immigrant victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking across bernalillo, valencia, and sandoval counties of central new mexico. The project will address the following priority areas: 1) priority area 1: advancing racial equity and 2) priority area 3: underserved communities.