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 $750,000 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program award, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (CFDA 16.524), supports Caring Unlimited Corporation, a non-profit organization in Sanford, Maine, in providing comprehensive civil and criminal legal services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in York County. Through this 3-year continuation project, Caring Unlimited and its partner, the Volunteer Lawyers Project, will deliver legal representation, limited representation, brief services, pro se assistance, and victim advocacy services to help victims address legal matters related to their victimization, including family law, protection orders, housing, and criminal justice proceedings. The project aims to increase the availability of holistic legal support to promote victim safety, privacy, and economic independence.

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, caring unlimited, in partnership with the volunteer lawyers project, will provide legal representation, limited representation, brief services, pro SE assistance, and victim advocacy services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in protection from abuse cases and family matters stemming from their victimization in york county, maine. This award is a continuation of 15JOVW-21-GG-00377-lega