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 Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc. $600,000 under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program on October 1, 2025. The organization will provide legal representation and advocacy in family law and civil law matters for victims ages 11 and older of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault in Maryland through September 30, 2028. Legal services include assistance in family, immigration, employment, housing, and protection or stay-away order proceedings, as well as advocacy in criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, and post-trial matters that impact victim safety and privacy. Performance will occur in Ruxton, Maryland. The LAV program funds comprehensive direct legal services to eligible victims in matters relating to or arising from abuse or violence, including alternative dispute resolution and restorative practices intended to promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy, and post-conviction relief proceedings where a victim's conviction is related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sex trafficking.

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 womens law center of maryland, INC., will provide legal representation and advocacy in family law and civil law matters for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault in maryland.