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…

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 maryland coalition against sexual assault will provide holistic legal representation to survivors and victims of sexual assault in civil and criminal matters resulting from the sexual assault, with a focus beyond intimate partner sexual assault. Services will include direct legal representation and legal advice in matters such as safety, education, criminal justice advocacy, immigration, family law, employment law, privacy, housing, consumer issues (including credit restoration), and administrative matters. The project will address the following priority area: strengthen efforts to prevent and end sexual assault including victim services and civil and criminal justice responses. The following product will be updated, printed, and distributed during the project period: identifying legal issues for victims of sexual assault: a checklist for survivors (english and spanish). This award is a continuation of 15JOVW-21-GG-00374-lega.