U.S. Department
of Justice
Legal Assistance For Victims Program
The Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) 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 by providing funds for comprehensive direct legal services to victims in legal matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence. Comprehensive legal services extend beyond representation in emergency and non-emergency protection order hearings to address the broad spectrum of legal issues that victims encounter, including family matters such as divorce, child custody or child support, immigration, administrative agency proceedings, and consumer or housing matters.
“Legal assistance” is assistance in civil (excluding torts) or administrative matters; criminal justice investigations, prosecutions of the offender, and post-conviction matters that impact victims’ safety, privacy, or other interests as a victim; alternative dispute resolution, restorative practices, or other processes that promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy, and offender accountability; or post-conviction relief proceedings in state, local, Tribal, or territorial court. All matters must be related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victimization. Intake or referral alone is not legal assistance. 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(24)(C) and (D).
Eligible applicants are limited to: private nonprofit entities; publicly funded organizations not acting in a governmental capacity; territorial organizations; Indian tribal governments; and tribal organizations.
In 2023, the LAV Program gave out 55 awards totaling $39.63 million.
Once posted, the solicitation to apply for this program can be found on OVW’s website. Members of the public can also sign up for notifications on that website, and grant announcements are posted to OVW’s Twitter.
This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 20121.
Learn More About the LAV Program
Video
OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Pre-Application Information Session
Information About the ELSI Initiative
LAV supports an Expanding Legal Services Initiative (ELSI) to develop legal programs to serve victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking at organizations that do not currently offer legal representation. Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations, tribal governments, tribal organizations, or territorial organizations that do not currently have programs or divisions providing legal representation but propose to establish programs to provide legal services to victims. Priority consideration are given to applications for which the lead applicant is a culturally specific organization.
In 2023, the LAV ELSI initiative gave out eight awards totaling $3.19 million.
Learn More about the ELSI Initiative
Video
OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Expanding Legal Services Initiative (ELSI) Pre-Application Information Session
How to Apply for and Manage Your Grant
The Justice Grants System (JustGrants) is the Department of Justice's grants management system. Through the JustGrants portal, you can:
- Sign on to your account
- Access training resources
- Get user support
- Find answers to frequently asked questions
- Sign up for the JustGrants Update e-newsletter
Action Center
LAV Program Awards
| Peace At Home Family Shelter, Inc. | Fayetteville | Arkansas | $750,000 |
| Center For Community Solutions | San Diego | California | $600,000 |
| Community Legal Aid Socal | Santa Ana | California | $750,000 |
| Cora (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse) | San Mateo | California | $750,000 |
| Jenesse Center, Inc | Culver City | California | $750,000 |
| La Center For Law & Justice | Los Angeles | California | $600,000 |
| Legal Aid Foundation Of Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | California | $750,000 |
| Monarch Services-Servicios Monarca | Watsonville | California | $750,000 |
| Project Safeguard | Denver | Colorado | $750,000 |
| Connecticut Alliance To End Sexual Violence, Inc. | East Hartford | Connecticut | $600,000 |
| Community Legal Aid Society Inc | Wilmington | Delaware | $750,000 |
| Ayuda | Washington | District of Columbia | $750,000 |
| D.C. Volunteer Lawyers Project | Washington | District of Columbia | $750,000 |
| Mosaic Georgia, (Inc.) | Duluth | Georgia | $600,000 |
| The Tahirih Justice Center | Atlanta | Georgia | $750,000 |
| Illinois Prison Project | Chicago | Illinois | $750,000 |
| Life-Span | Des Plaines | Illinois | $750,000 |
| IowaCASA | Des Moines | Iowa | $600,000 |
| Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders In Solidarity | Des Moines | Iowa | $750,000 |
| Administrators Of The Tulane Educational Fund, The | New Orleans | Louisiana | $749,852 |
| Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Incorporated | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | $750,000 |
| Sexual Trauma Awareness And Response (Star) Center | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | $900,000 |
| Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corp | Hammond | Louisiana | $600,000 |
| Community Legal Aid Inc. | Worcester | Massachusetts | $750,000 |
| Michigan Advocacy Program | Ypsilanti | Michigan | $750,000 |
| Michigan Coalition To End Domestic And Sexual Violence | Okemos | Michigan | $600,000 |
| Anishinabe Legal Services | Cass Lake | Minnesota | $734,500 |
| Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance | Minneapolis | Minnesota | $750,000 |
| The St Paul & Ramsey County Domestic Abuse Intervention Project | Saint Paul | Minnesota | $750,000 |
| Crime Victim Advocacy Center Of St. Louis | Saint Louis | Missouri | $719,540 |
| Metropolitan Organization To Counter Sexual Assault | Kansas City | Missouri | $600,000 |
| Sanders County Coalition For Families | Thompson Falls | Montana | $750,000 |
| 180 Turning Lives Around Inc | Hazlet | New Jersey | $750,000 |
| Enlace Comunitario | Albuquerque | New Mexico | $600,000 |
| New Mexico Legal Aid, Inc. | Albuquerque | New Mexico | $750,000 |
| Legal Aid Society Of Mid-New York, Inc. | Utica | New York | $750,000 |
| My Sisters Place | White Plains | New York | $750,000 |
| Sanctuary For Families Inc | New York | New York | $750,000 |
| Community Violence Intervention Center Inc | Grand Forks | North Dakota | $750,000 |
| Legal Aid Of Western Ohio Inc | Toledo | Ohio | $750,000 |
| The Immigrant And Refugee Community Organization | Portland | Oregon | $750,000 |
| Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, Inc. | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | $750,000 |
| Womens Resource Center Inc | Scranton | Pennsylvania | $750,000 |
| Taller Salud Inc | Loiza | Puerto Rico | $750,000 |
| SC Victim Assistance Network Inc | Columbia | South Carolina | $750,000 |
| Sccadvasa | Columbia | South Carolina | $750,000 |
| Legal Aid Society Of Middle Tennessee And The Cumberlands | Nashville | Tennessee | $684,475 |
| West Tennessee Legal Services Inc | Jackson | Tennessee | $600,000 |
| Saheli | Austin | Texas | $750,000 |
| Texas Advocacy Project, Inc. | Austin | Texas | $750,000 |
| Womens Center Of Tarrant County Inc | Fort Worth | Texas | $750,000 |
| Vermont Network Against Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault, Inc | Montpelier | Vermont | $750,000 |
| YWCA Of Clark County | Vancouver | Washington | $750,000 |
| Wisconsin Judicare Inc | Wausau | Wisconsin | $750,000 |
| Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault | Laramie | Wyoming | $600,000 |
| Total Award Amount | $39,638,367 | ||
| Total Number of Awards | 55 |
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LAV ELSI Initiative Awards
| H.O.P.E. Helping Ourselves Prevent Emergencies | Craig | Alaska | $400,000 |
| Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance | Richmond | California | $400,000 |
| Nuevo Sendero Inc | Orlando | Florida | $400,000 |
| Raksha Inc | Atlanta | Georgia | $400,000 |
| Alliance Of Local Service Organizations | Chicago | Illinois | $400,000 |
| Esperanza United | Saint Paul | Minnesota | $400,000 |
| The Doves Program | Gering | Nebraska | $399,306 |
| Sojourner House, Inc. | North Providence | Rhode Island | $400,000 |
| Total Award Amount | $3,199,306 | ||
| Total Number of Awards | 8 |
For awards issued before 2021, you can visit our grant awards program page.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the Legal Assistance For Victims Program, you can email us or call 202-307-6026.