By: United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. Published in 2016

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The U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence against Women (OVW)’s 2016 Biennial Report to Congress features two years of grant programs addressing sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking across the nation. It includes aggregate data on OVW grant activities, describes accomplishments that would not have been possible without funding authorized by VAWA (Violence Against Women Act), and reports on remaining areas of need. Among the more than 1 million services provided to victims and their families by VAWA grantees during the two-year reporting period are legal services.

Essential to ending domestic and sexual violence, the legal services highlighted in the report include:

• Crisis intervention to help victims deal with their immediate needs after being victimized, find resources, and plan for safety in the aftermath of violence;
• Legal advocacy and representation in civil and criminal matters, which help victims navigate the legal system and obtain favorable outcomes in their cases; and
• Assistance with obtaining orders for protection, which are one of the most frequently sought legal remedies for domestic violence victims and have been shown to reduce further violence and improve quality of life for victims.

Categories: Domestic Violence, Family, Legal Aid Attorneys, Legal Aid Practitioners, National, Policymakers and Funders, Victims of Crime