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 $400,000 to the Women's Resource Center of Newport & Bristol on October 1, 2025, under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) program (CFDA 16.524) to establish a comprehensive legal services program serving victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the East Bay region of Rhode Island.

The recipient will provide legal representation and civil legal assistance in family law matters and other civil proceedings to eligible victims ages 11 and older. The award funds the planning and implementation phase of the Legal Assistance for Victims Expanding Legal Services Initiative (ELSI), which targets organizations not currently offering legal services. This is the Women's Resource Center's first legal services offering under the LAV program.

The period of performance runs through September 30, 2027. Performance takes place in Newport, Rhode Island. The Women's Resource Center is a tax-exempt nonprofit based in Newport that has established federal vendor status and currently holds four prime grants from the Department of Justice totaling approximately $1.4 million, including transitional housing and victim services awards.

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). The LAV grant programs expanding legal services initiative (elsi) is intended to enable eligible organizations that do not currently offer legal services to establish a program that provides legal representation to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Through this new legal assistance for victims expanding legal services initiative project, the womens resource center of newport & bristol will plan and implement a comprehensive legal services program to provide representation in family law matters and other civil legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking in the east BAY region of rhode island.