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's Office on Violence Against Women awarded $750,000 to Cumberland Trace Legal Services Inc., doing business as Kentucky Legal Aid, on October 1, 2025, under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) grant program (CFDA 16.524) to provide comprehensive civil legal services to rural victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault across 35 counties in southcentral and western Kentucky.

Kentucky Legal Aid, in partnership with Barren River Area Safe Space Inc., Merryman House Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Oasis Inc., and Sanctuary Inc., delivers free civil legal assistance in family law, tribal and territorial matters, immigration, employment, housing, administrative agency proceedings, criminal justice investigations and prosecutions, and post-conviction relief proceedings. The award supports a civil legal needs assessment template for use by Welcome Home Partners.

Performance runs from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028, with place of performance in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This is a continuation of grant 15JOVW-22-GG-00282-LEGA.

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, kentucky legal aid, in partnership with barren river area safe space, INC. (BRASS); merryman house domestic violence crisis center (merryman house); OASIS, INC. (OASIS); and SANCTUARY, INC. (SANCTUARY), will provide free, holistic civil legal services to rural victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or sexual assault in 35 counties in southcentral and western kentucky. The following productwill be developed during the project period: civil legal needs assessment template for use by welcome home partners. This is a continuation of 15JOVW-22-GG-00282-lega.