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 $669,607 to Micronesian Legal Services Corporation on October 1, 2025, under the Legal Assistance for Victims program (16.524) to provide civil legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The award supports direct legal services in family, immigration, employment, housing, protection order proceedings, and related matters for victims ages 11 and older. Micronesian Legal Services Corporation will partner with Karidat and the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence to deliver these services. The period of performance runs through September 30, 2028.

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, micronesian legal services corporation, in partnership with karidat and the northern marianas coalition against domestic & sexual violence, will provide civil legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault in the commonwealth of the northern mariana islands.