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 federal Project Grant award of $750,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program (CFDA 16.524) will enable Retreat Inc., a domestic violence organization in East Hampton, NY, to provide comprehensive legal services and advocacy to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Eastern Suffolk County, NY.

Through this 3-year continuation project, Retreat Inc. will collaborate with several sub-awardees, including Nassau Suffolk Law Services, Arpino Law PLLC, Beau Taylor Law PLLC, and SEPA Mujer Inc., to deliver legal representation, advice, and brief services to victims in matters such as family law, immigration, housing, and criminal justice proceedings. The project aims to advance equity and address the legal needs of vulnerable populations impacted by violence. Key project deliverables include developing palm cards and informational flyers to support these legal assistance efforts.

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, retreat INC., in partnership with 1) nassau suffolk law services (nsls); 2) david arpino / arpino law pllc; 3) beau taylor law, pllc; and 4) sepa mujer INC., will provide legal advocacy; legal representation for family court, divorce, immigration, and other legal matters; and legal advice/brief legal services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in eastern suffolk county, NY. The project will address the following priority area: advance equity and tribal sovereignty. The following products will be developed during the project period: 1) palm cards; and 2) informational flyers. This award is a continuation of 15JOVW-21-GG-00384-lega.