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) to My Sisters' Place, Inc., a non-profit organization in Westchester County, New York. Through this 3-year project grant, My Sisters' Place will provide comprehensive civil and criminal legal services to immigrant victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the local area. Key services include trauma-informed legal representation, advocacy, and assistance in matters such as immigration, family law, housing, and criminal justice proceedings related to the abuse. The project will also expand the availability of legal services by recruiting, training, and supervising pro bono attorneys and law students to assist in delivering high-quality aid to victims. Additionally, My Sisters' Place will conduct outreach and collaborate with community partners, law enforcement, and other legal service providers to improve the overall response to these forms of gender-based violence in the region.

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, my sisters place, incorporated (MSP), in partnership with the community resource center, will serve immigrant victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in westchester county, new york and the surrounding area, including parts of new york city and the lower hudson valley. Msps center for legal services will provide trauma-informed civil legal services targeted toward recent immigrants that creates pathways to linguistically accessible and culturally competent advice and representation in immigration and family law matters. MSP will expand the availability of legal services for immigrant victims by continuing to recruit, train, and supervise pro bono attorneys/law students to assist in the delivery of high quality civil legal services to victims. MSP will continue to provide outreach and collaboration with community partners, law enforcement agencies, and other providers of legal services to expand referral networks, advocate for victims, and improve the community-wide response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.