OVW Fiscal Year 2012 Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program

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The Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and youth victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking who are seeking relief in legal matters arising as a consequence of that abuse or violence. Criminal legal assistance is limited to criminal matters relating to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. LAV Grant Program funds may not be used to provide criminal defense services. The LAV Grant Program makes awards to law school clinics, domestic violence victims’ 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 to provide direct legal services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in matters arising from abuse or violence and to provide enhanced training for lawyers representing these victims as well as advocates. The objective of the LAV Grant Program is to develop innovative, collaborative projects that provide quality representation to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. “Legal assistance” includes assistance to adult and youth victims of sexual assault, intimate partner domestic violence, dating violence, 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; and b) criminal justice investigations, prosecutions and post-trial matters (including sentencing, parole, and probation) that impact the victim’s safety and privacy.

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