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 victims…

This $400,000 Project Grant award to True North of Columbia, Inc. under the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women's Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program (CFDA 16.524) is intended to enable the organization to establish a comprehensive legal services program. Through this initiative, True North will plan and implement legal representation and court advocacy services for victims of domestic and sexual violence in Boone County, Missouri. The legal services will cover matters such as order of protection hearings, divorce proceedings, evictions, child custody cases involving domestic violence, and immigration issues. Key deliverables include developing a policies and procedures manual for True North's legal services department, as well as creating informational materials like pamphlets, brochures, and flyers to outreach to survivors and promote the available legal assistance. This grant award will fund these activities over a 2-year period from October 2024 to September 2026.

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 victims (ages 11 and older) of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking 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 includes assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in: a) family, tribal, territorial, immigration, employment, administrative agency, housing matters, campus administrative, or protection or stay away order proceedings, and other similar matters; b) criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, and post-trial matters (including sentencing, parole, and probation) that impact the victims safety and privacy; c) alternative dispute resolution, restorative practices, or other processes intended to promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy; and d) post-conviction relief proceedings in state, local, tribal, or territorial court where the conviction of a victim is related to or arising from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or SEX trafficking. 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(24)(c). The LAV grant programs expanding legal services initiative (elsi) is intended to enable eligible organizations that do not currently offer legal services to establish a program that provides legal representation to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Through this new legal assistance for victims expanding legal services initiative project, true north of columbia, INC. Will plan and implement a comprehensive legal services program to provide legal and court advocacy services to victims of domestic and sexual violence in boone county, missouri. Legal services will include assistance with order of protection hearings, divorce proceedings, evictions, child custody cases when domestic violence is a mitigating factor, and immigration issues. The following products will be developed during the project period: policies and procedures manual for true norths legal services department, pamphlets outlining the EX parte process, brochures describing the legal services available through true north, and flyers inviting survivors to join victim-centered focus groups.