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 Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corp on October 1, 2025, under the Legal Assistance for Victims grant program (CFDA 16.524).

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, doing business as New Orleans Legal Assistance, will provide expanded holistic legal assistance to victims ages 11 and older of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault in St. Tammany and Washington parishes. The recipient will partner with Safe Harbor to deliver comprehensive direct legal services in family law, tribal, territorial, immigration, employment, administrative agency, housing, and campus administrative matters; protection or stay-away order proceedings; criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, and post-trial matters affecting victim safety and privacy; alternative dispute resolution and restorative practices; and post-conviction relief proceedings where a victim's conviction relates to abuse or violence. Southeast Louisiana Legal Services will also operate a supervised pro bono pool to expand service capacity.

The award runs through September 30, 2028, with place of performance in Hammond, Louisiana. The Legal Assistance for Victims program funds civil and criminal legal services to victims in matters arising from abuse or violence, with eligible grantees limited to private nonprofits, Indian tribal governments and organizations, territorial organizations, and publicly funded organizations not acting in a governmental capacity.

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, southeast louisiana legal services (SLLS) in partnership with safe harbor, will provide expanded holistic legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault, increase its collaboration with safe harbor, and operate a supervised pro bono pool to victims living in ST. Tammany and washington parishes.