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 the South Dakota Network Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Inc. (doing business as the Network) $750,000 on October 1, 2025, under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) grant program (CFDA 16.524) to provide free holistic civil legal services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault across South Dakota.

The award funds comprehensive direct legal assistance in family, immigration, employment, housing, and protection or stay-away order proceedings; criminal justice investigations and post-trial matters affecting victim safety and privacy; alternative dispute resolution and restorative practices promoting victim safety and autonomy; and post-conviction relief proceedings where a victim's conviction relates to or arises from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sex trafficking. The Network partners with Working Against Violence, Inc., Brown Law Firm P.C., Baloun Law P.C., and Wendt Law, Prof., L.L.C. to deliver services.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028, with place of performance in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This is a continuation of prior grant 15JOVW-22-GG-00319-LEGA. Working Against Violence, Inc. received a sub-award (issued March 19, 2026) to provide legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault. The program targets victims ages 11 and older in matters relating to or arising from abuse or violence.

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 (LAV) project, the south dakota network against family violence and sexual assault (the network), in partnership with working against violence, INC. (wavi), brown law firm P.C., baloun law P.C., and wendt law, prof., L.L.C. Will provide free holistic civil legal services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault across the state of south dakota. This grant is continuation of 15JOVW-22-GG-00319-lega.