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 Ascend Justice $750,000 in a Project Grant under the Legal Assistance for Victims program (CFDA 16.524) on October 1, 2025.

Ascend Justice will provide civil legal services to victims of domestic violence in Cook County, Illinois, with emphasis on economic justice-related legal assistance for incarcerated survivors of domestic violence. Services include representation in family law, immigration, employment, housing, criminal justice proceedings, and post-conviction relief matters relating to or arising from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

The award runs through September 30, 2028, and performance occurs in Chicago, Illinois. This is a continuation of a prior award (15JOVW-21-GG-00367-LEGA) that ended September 30, 2024.

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 continuation legal assistance for victims project, ascend justice will provide civil legal services to victims of domestic violence including the need for economic justice-related legal services among incarcerated survivors of domestic violence in cook county, illinois. This is a continuation of 15JOVW-21-GG-00367-lega.