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 Pace University $750,000 on October 1, 2025, under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) program (CFDA 16.524) to provide civil legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault in Westchester and Putnam counties in New York.

Pace University partners with Putnam/Northern Westchester Women's Resource Center and Westchester County's Victims Assistance Services to deliver direct legal services to victims ages 11 and older. Legal assistance covers family, immigration, employment, housing, and protection order matters; criminal justice investigations and prosecutions; alternative dispute resolution and restorative practices; and post-conviction relief proceedings where the victim's conviction relates to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sex trafficking.

The award period runs through September 30, 2028, with place of performance in New York, NY. This is a Project Grant assistance type. Pace University, a private nonprofit institution, operates as the prime recipient managing the three-partner collaborative structure.

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, pace university, in partnership with putnam/northern westchester womens resource center (pnwwrc) and westchester countys victims assistance services (VAS), will provide civil legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault in westchester and putnam counties in new york.