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 Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women awarded $750,000 to the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence on October 1, 2025, under the Legal Assistance for Victims grant program (CFDA 16.524).

The award funds post-conviction legal assistance to survivors of domestic violence incarcerated in Georgia's women's prisons. The Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence leads the initiative in partnership with the Jane W. Wilson Family Justice Clinic at UGA School of Law, Igniting Hope GA, and law firm partners Alston & Bird LLP, Bondurant Mixon & Elmore LLP, Fisher & Phillips LLP, King & Spalding LLP, and Troutman Pepper Locke LLP. The program provides comprehensive civil and criminal legal services to victims ages 11 and older of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, with particular focus on post-conviction relief proceedings in state, local, tribal, or territorial courts where convictions relate to or arise from abuse, violence, or sex trafficking.

The award runs through September 30, 2028, with place of performance in Atlanta, Georgia.

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). Through this new legal assistance for victims project, the georgia coalition against domestic violence, in partnership with jane W. Wilson family justice clinic UGA school of law, igniting hope GA, and law firm partners alston & bird LLP, bondurant mixon & elmore LLP, fisher & phillips LLP, king & spalding LLP, and troutman pepper locke LLP, will provide post-conviction legal assistance to survivors of domestic violence incarcerated in georgias womens prisons.