OVW FY 2009 Legal Assistance for Victims

The Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance necessary to provide effective aid to adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or 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 domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. LAV Grant Program funds cannot be used to provide criminal defense services. The LAV Grant Program awards grants to law school legal clinics, domestic violence victims’ shelters, bar associations, sexual assault victims’ 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 domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in matters arising from the abuse or violence and to provide enhanced training for lawyers representing these victims. The objective of the LAV Grant Program is to develop innovative, collaborative projects that provide quality representation to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.