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 $736,670 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women will enable the Legal Aid Society, Inc., in partnership with Spring Haven, Inc., to provide comprehensive civil legal intervention and wrap-around services to low-income survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence in eight Kentucky counties. The three-year project, running from October 2024 to September 2027, will focus on delivering a range of direct legal assistance, including aid in family, immigration, employment, housing, and criminal justice matters related to the abuse experienced by victims aged 11 and older. The grant will also support alternative dispute resolution, restorative practices, and post-conviction relief services intended to promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy. Outreach materials will be developed as part of this project to increase awareness and accessibility of the comprehensive legal services provided.

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 new legal assistance for victims project, legal aid society, in partnership with spring haven, INC., will provide holistic civil legal intervention and wrap around services to low-income survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence in breckinridge, grayson, hardin, larue, marion, meade, nelson, and washington counties in kentucky. The following products will be developed during the project period: outreach materials.