Grant Details

The Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program (CFDA 16.524) is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and youth (ages 11 to 24) victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault by providing funds for comprehensive direct legal services to victims in legal matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence. Legal assistance” is assistance in: a) divorce, parental rights, child support, Tribal, territorial, immigration, employment, administrative agency, housing, campus, education, healthcare, privacy, contract, consumer, civil rights, protection or other injunctive proceedings, related enforcement proceedings, and other similar matters; b) criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, and post-conviction matters (including sentencing, parole, and probation) that impact the victim's safety, privacy, or other interests as a victim; c) alternative dispute resolution, restorative practices, or other processes intended to promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy, and offender accountability, regardless of court involvement; or d) post-conviction relief proceedings in state, local, Tribal, or territorial court with respect to a conviction of a victim relating to or arising from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sex trafficking victimization of the victim.

Funds under this program must be used for one or more of the following purposes:

1. To implement, expand, and establish cooperative efforts and projects between domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault victim service providers and legal assistance providers to provide legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault.
2. To implement, expand, and establish efforts and projects to provide legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault by organizations with a demonstrated history of providing direct legal or advocacy services on behalf of these victims.
3. To implement, expand, and establish efforts and projects to provide competent, supervised pro bono legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, except not more than 10 percent of grant funds awarded may be used for this purpose. (The 10 percent limit is on the funds awarded under the LAV Grant Program overall and is not specific to an individual project.) 

In FY 2024, OVW has four programmatic priorities. The priorities identified below are applicable to this program. Applicants are strongly encouraged, but not required, to address one or more priority areas. Applicants that state that they are addressing a priority area and meet the criteria for that priority area will be given special consideration:

• Advance equity and tribal sovereignty as essential components of ending sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking by improving outreach, services, civil and criminal justice responses, prevention, and support for survivors from historically marginalized and underserved communities, particularly those facing disproportionate rates or impacts of violence and multiple barriers to services, justice, and safety.
• Strengthen efforts to prevent and end sexual assault, including victim services and civil and criminal justice responses.
• Improve the Availability of Legal Services for Sexual Assault Survivors Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 20121(f)(2)(C), not less than 25 percent of funds made available for the LAV Grant Program must be used to support projects focused solely or primarily on providing legal assistance to victims of sexual assault. OVW recognizes the need to place increased focus on sexual assault to address the lack of available legal assistance for survivors of sexual assault and the unique aspects of sexual assault trauma from which survivors must heal. 
• Tribal Programs Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 20121(f)(2)(A), not less than three percent of funds made available for the LAV Grant Program must be used for projects that assist victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault on lands within the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe. Note: this includes Alaska Native Villages. To receive special consideration under this statutory priority, an application must include the percentage of proposed activities that will support services to victims on tribal lands. Priority consideration under this statutory priority will be given to applications with a tribal government or tribal organization as the lead applicant.