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 the Tahirih Justice Center $750,000 on October 1, 2025, under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) program (CFDA 16.524) to provide comprehensive direct legal representation to victims and survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the Greater Baltimore metropolitan area of Maryland.

The Tahirih Justice Center, a nonprofit legal services organization based in Baltimore, will deliver legal assistance in family law, immigration, employment, housing, criminal justice proceedings, protection orders, and post-conviction relief matters affecting victim safety and privacy. The center operates in partnership with Maryland Legal Aid. The award funds services to victims ages 11 and older in matters relating to or arising from abuse or violence, including representation in alternative dispute resolution and restorative practices intended to promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy.

The period of performance runs through September 30, 2028. This is a continuation award following a prior LAV project grant that ended September 30, 2025. Work is performed in Baltimore, Maryland.

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, the tahirih justice center, in partnership with maryland legal aid, will provide representationto victims and survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking in greater baltimore/the baltimore metropolitan area in the state of maryland. This award is a continuation of 15JOVW-22-GG-00285-lega.