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 Project Grant award of $750,000.00 from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women under the Legal Assistance for Victims (CFDA 16.524) Grant Program will provide legal consultation and representation services for immigrant domestic violence survivors in North Texas, including Collin, Dallas, Denton, Kaufman, and Tarrant Counties. The funding will be used by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Inc. to address the priority area of advancing equity and tribal sovereignty. During the project period from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027, the organization will develop reports from ongoing survivor focus groups to inform the development of best practices and future services.

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 new legal assistance for victims project, U.S. Committee for refugees and immigrants will provide legal consultation and representation for these legal remedies for immigrant domestic violence survivors in north texas including collin, dallas, denton, kaufman and tarrant counties. The project will address the following priority area: advance equity and tribal sovereignty. The following products will be developed during the project period: reports from ongoing survivor focus groups that will inform the development of best practices and future services.