Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2004
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
OVW
(202) 514-2008
TDD (202) 514-1888

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT ANNOUNCES $33.6 MILLION IN AWARDS TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING


WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorney General John Ashcroft announced today that the Justice Department is awarding $33.6 million to provide legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking as part of its Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) grant program. This program is funded under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and administered by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

“Appearing in court can be a frightening and confusing experience for victims who cannot afford a lawyer on their own,” said Attorney General Ashcroft. “As Americans, we value equality before the law and understand that justice is best served when crime victims can enter a courtroom knowing someone is there to help them make their case. The LAV Program ensures that victims of violence against women will receive effective legal representation by attorneys who are specifically trained to handle these types of cases.”

LAV grants are for providing direct legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in matters arising from the abuse or violence; and for providing enhanced training for lawyers representing these victims. The goal of the LAV Program is to develop innovative, collaborative projects that provide quality representation to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The LAV Program awards grants to law school legal clinics, legal aid or legal services programs, domestic violence victims= shelters, bar associations, sexual assault programs, private nonprofit entities-including faith-based and community-based organizations-and Indian tribal governments.

“Legal assistance for victims is an area where a tremendous need exists,” said Diane M. Stuart, Director of the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women. “In order to reach as many victims as possible, our grantees have had to be both innovative and creative in their approaches. Strong collaboration among the legal, social service, and criminal justice communities has helped make this happen.”

The Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) was created in 1995 to implement the Violence Against Women Act and to provide policy guidance to the Attorney General. OVW provides leadership in the nationwide effort to end domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. By forging state, local, and tribal partnerships among police, prosecutors, the judiciary, victim advocates, health care providers, faith leaders, and others, OVW grants help communities to provide victims with the protection and services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives and with the ability to hold offenders accountable.

The organizations receiving LAV awards and the states in which they are located are attached. Information about the LAV Program and other initiatives involving violence against women is available on the OVW website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo <http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo> or by calling the National Criminal Justice Reference Service toll-free at 1-800-851-3420.

###

04-619