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…

This $750,000 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women will fund the "Safe to Be You" project implemented by New Mexico Legal Aid, Inc. (NMLA) in partnership with several local organizations. The project aims to provide outreach and comprehensive civil legal assistance to LGBTQ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking across New Mexico, including in rural and tribal areas. Key services to be delivered include direct legal representation, advocacy, and assistance in matters such as family law, housing, protection orders, and criminal justice proceedings related to the victimization. The project period runs from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2026 and will also produce internal intake/referral documents and community outreach brochures. NMLA, a non-profit legal services provider, will collaborate with the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, Equality New Mexico Foundation, and Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico to implement this CFDA 16.524 program.

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, new mexico legal aids safe to be you project, in partnership with new mexico coalition against domestic violence, coalition to stop violence against native women, equality new mexico foundation, and transgender resource center of new mexico, will provide outreach and civil legal assistance to lgbtq survivors across new mexico including rural and tribal areas. The following products will be developed during the project period: internal intake and referral documents and community outreach brochures.