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 $600,000 to Respect Together on October 1, 2025, under the Legal Assistance for Victims program (CFDA 16.524) to provide comprehensive trauma-informed legal advice and representation to victims of sexual violence in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through September 30, 2027.

The award funds direct legal services to survivors ages 11 and older, including representation in family, immigration, employment, housing, and protection order proceedings; criminal justice matters including investigations, prosecutions, and post-trial proceedings that impact victim safety and privacy; alternative dispute resolution and restorative practices; and post-conviction relief proceedings where a victim's conviction relates to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sex trafficking. The project improves availability of legal services for sexual assault survivors and programs assisting victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Performance occurs in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This is a continuation of prior award 15JOVW-22-GG-00317-LEGA. Respect Together, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit also known as the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR), operates victim services, prevention initiatives, and legal support at state and national levels.

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, respect together will provide comprehensive trauma informed legal advice and representation to victims of sexual violence to survivors in the commonwealth of pennsylvania. The project will address the following statutory considerations: improve the availability of legal services for sexual assault survivorsand/or programs assisting victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking. This award is a continuation of 15JOVW-22-GG-00317-lega.