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 montana legal services association, in partnership with the district 4 human resources development council victim services in havre, the ywca mercy home of great falls, the office of victim services rocky boys reservation, safe in hamilton, and the abbie shelter of kalispell, will provide legal advice, brief services, limited scope, and full representation legal services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (SURVIVORS) in northwestern, north central, central, and southwestern montana, including american indians from the rocky boys, fort belknap, and blackfeet reservations, and members of the little shell tribe of chippewa indians. The project will address the following priority area: advance equity and tribal sovereignty. The following products will be developed during the project period: handouts, powerpoint presentations, brochures, online resources, and victim rights informational packets. This award is a continuation of 2016-WL-AX-0046.