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 Against Abuse Inc. $400,000 under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program on October 1, 2025, to establish a comprehensive legal services program serving victims ages 11 and older of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Pinal County, Arizona.

Against Abuse Inc., a tax-exempt nonprofit domestic shelter based in Casa Grande, Arizona, will plan and implement the program to provide legal representation in family law matters, representation of victims during prosecution of offenders, and expungement services. The LAV Expanding Legal Services Initiative (ELSI) component of the program enables the organization, which has not previously offered legal services, to establish these civil and criminal legal services where none currently exist.

The award period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. The assistance type is a Project Grant. Against Abuse Inc. has been registered to receive federal awards since March 2005 and currently holds three prime Office on Violence Against Women awards totaling $1.5 million, all awarded on October 1, 2025, supporting distinct but complementary service areas including transitional housing and justice for families programming in partnership with Pinal County Superior Court.

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, against abuse INC. Will plan and implement a comprehensive legal services program to provide legal representation in family law matters, representation of the victim during the prosecution of the offender, and expungement to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking in pinal county, arizona.