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 $600,000 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program award, issued by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women, will enable the Network for Victim Recovery of the District of Columbia (NVRDC) to provide comprehensive civil and criminal legal services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Washington, D.C. The LAV program, authorized under 34 U.S.C. 20121, aims to increase the availability of legal assistance for survivors in matters such as family law, immigration, housing, protection orders, employment, and criminal justice proceedings. Through this two-year continuation project, NVRDC will collaborate with several local partners, including DC Forensic Nurse Examiners, American University, Wendt Center for Loss and Healing, and others, to deliver victim-centered legal representation, advocacy, and enhanced referrals and support. The project specifically addresses priorities of advancing equity and increasing legal services for survivors of sexual assault.

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) and (d). Through this continuation legal assistance for victims project, the network for victim recovery of the district of columbia, in partnership with the district of columbia forensic nurse examiners, american universitys center for well-being programs and psychological services, the wendt center for loss and healing, legal counsel for the elderly, DC rape crisis center, ayuda, whitman-walker health, and university of the district of columbias david a. Clarke school of law legislation clinic, will provide direct legal assistance, pro bono support, and enhanced referrals and collaboration for survivors of sexual assault in the district of columbia. The project will address the following priority areas: 1) advance equity and tribal sovereignty and 2) increase legal services to victims of sexual assault. This award is a continuation of 15JOVW-21-GG-00410-lega.