“A recent study found that in one county between 2011 and 2018, judges denied at least twice as many orders of protection for victims representing themselves than for those with advocate or attorney representation. The same report found that victims without attorneys were almost three times as likely to drop their cases before receiving final protection. (Source)
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Program Overview
Legal Assistance for Victims Program
The Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program (LAV Program) is intended to support victims of domestic/sexual violence who are seeking relief in legal matters arising from their abuse. The LAV Program develops innovative, collaborative projects that provide quality representation to victims of domestic/sexual violence, and provides opportunities for communities to examine how the legal needs of victims can be met.
The LAV Program makes awards to law school clinics, domestic violence services programs and shelters, bar associations, rape crisis centers, and other sexual assault services programs; private nonprofit entities; Indian tribal governments and tribal organizations; territorial organizations; legal aid or statewide legal services; and faith- and/or community-based legal service providers. Grant funds may be used for direct legal services to victims of domestic/sexual violence. In addition, grant funds may be used to provide enhanced training for lawyers representing these victims, as well as for advocates.
Grantees may provide assistance to adult and youth victims in family, immigration, employment, administrative agency, and housing matters; campus administrative or protection or stay away order proceedings; or other similar matters; in addition to criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, and post-trial matters (including sentencing, parole, and probation) that impact the victim’s safety and privacy.
Progress Reporting Update
July – December 2022 Period
As before, LAV Program grantees will report their progress using a fillable PDF form that can be downloaded from this website (click on “Reporting form” below). Please submit the completed form as an attachment in your JustGrants account by the Jan. 30, 2023, deadline. For guidance on how to do that, please see the JustGrants website’s Training: Performance Reporting page.
Forms & Instructions
Trainings
Reporting Tools
Reports
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