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 Office on Violence Against Women awarded Sepa Mujer, Inc. $750,000 under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program on October 1, 2025, to provide civil legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault in Suffolk County, New York.

The award funds comprehensive direct legal services addressing family law, immigration, employment, housing, protection and stay-away order proceedings, criminal justice investigations and prosecutions, and post-conviction relief matters related to abuse or violence. Sepa Mujer will dedicate at least 50 percent of grant activities to sexual assault survivors. The organization will develop flyers as project products during the performance period.

This is a continuation award, succeeding grant 15JOVW-22-GG-00304-LEGA. Work is performed in Patchogue, New York, with performance running through September 30, 2028. Sepa Mujer, Inc. is a tax-exempt, community-based nonprofit organization headquartered in Patchogue that specializes in serving Hispanic and Latina immigrant populations through culturally and linguistically specific victim services and support programs.

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, sepa mujer, INC will provide civil legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault in suffolk county new york. The project will address the following statutory consideration:improve the availability of legal services for sexual assault survivors, by focusing 50 percent or more of its grant activities on sexual assault legal services. The following products will be developed during the project period: flyers. This award is a continuation of 15JOVW-22-GG-00304-lega.