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 tahirih justice center, in partnership with aid to victims of domestic abuse, will provide legal services, including advice, counsel, and representation in immigration; family law to include divorce, child custody, paternity, and adoptions in the instance where there has been a fatality due to domestic violence; protection or stay away order proceedings; and other similar matters to marginalized and underserved immigrant victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are people of color and/or limited english proficient in greater houston, texas. The project will address the following priority area: advance equity and tribal sovereignty. This award is a continuation of 15JOVW-21-GG-00393-lega.