OVW Fiscal Year 2011 Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program

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.