Alaska Institute For Justice

ALASKA VICTIM LEGAL ASSISTANCE NETWORK OF TEN PARTNER AGENCIES TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE, COLLABORATIVE MODEL FOR DELIVERING WRAPAROUND LEGAL ASSISTAN

CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT WITHIN RURAL ALASKA

CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT WITHIN RURAL ALASKA

THIS AWARD TO ALASKA INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE (AIJ) WILL PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF DIRECT SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED IMMIGRANTS IN ALASKA WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED, MARGINALIZED, AND ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY INEQUALITY. DIRECT SERVICES WILL INCLUDE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, PERSONAL ADVOCACY, CRISIS INTERVENTION, SAFETY PLANNING, REFERRAL FOR SHELTER, EDUCATION/EMPLOYMENT, AND SKILL-BUILDING SERVICES. AIJ WILL FOLLOW A VICTIM-CENTERED AND TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH TO ENSURE SURVIVORS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO WORK THROUGH THE IMPACT OF THE CRIME, ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE SHAPED THE TRAFFICKING SITUATION, AND WORK TOWARD ACHIEVING THEIR PERSONAL GOALS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED ACCESS TO A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF DIRECT SERVICES THAT ADVANCE CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUITY AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE; ENHANCED SUPPORT FOR UNDERSERVED AND MARGINALIZED HUMAN TRAFFICKING CRIME VICTIMS; AND STRENGTHENED OVERALL COMMUNITY SAFETY AND TRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND ALASKA'S MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. AIJ WILL PARTNER WITH THE ALASKA LITERACY PROGRAM IMMIGRANT PEER LEADER NAVIGATORS (PLNS), STANDING TOGETHER AGAINST RAPE (STAR) SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM, CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CSS), ALASKA NATIVE JUSTICE CENTER (ANJC), ANCHORAGE POLICE DEPARTMENT CYBER CRIMES UNIT, ANCHORAGE U.S. ATTORNEYS OFFICE, ANCHORAGE FBI, AND ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO MEET THE COMPREHENSIVE DIRECT SERVICES NEEDS FOR UNDERSERVED LABOR AND SEX TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS.

COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDED TO IMMIGRANT VICTIMS

UNDER THIS AWARD, ALASKA INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE (AIJ) WILL PROVIDE SPECIALIZED LEGAL SERVICES STATEWIDE TO UNDERSERVED HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS, INCLUDING IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS. AIJ’S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS SERVING IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND CULTURES INCLUDING SURVIVORS WHO ARE BLACK, HISPANIC/LATINX, ASIAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND/OR PACIFIC ISLANDER. AIJ ALSO PROVIDES CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES FOR HISPANIC/LATINX TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS. WITH OVC FUNDING, AIJ WILL PROVIDE SPECIALIZED LEGAL SERVICES INCLUDING IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE, PROTECTIVE ORDERS, CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT, NAVIGATING AND UNDERSTANDING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS AND LEGAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO VICTIMS. AIJ WILL FOLLOW A VICTIM-CENTERED AND TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH TO ENSURE HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO WORK THROUGH THE IMPACT OF THE CRIME, ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE SHAPED THE TRAFFICKING SITUATION, AND WORK TOWARD IDENTIFYING AND ACHIEVING THEIR PERSONAL GOALS. AIJ’S PROVISION OF SPECIALIZED LEGAL SERVICES WILL SUPPORT UNDERSERVED CRIME VICTIMS IMPACTED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY SAFETY, AND BUILD TRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY. THESE SERVICES WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO JUSTICE BY ENSURING THAT SURVIVORS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS SPECIALIZED LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO APPLY FOR IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING CONTINUED PRESENCE, WORK AUTHORIZATION AND U AND T VISAS.

THE RURAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING PROGRAM (RURAL PROGRAM) IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 12341. RURAL PROGRAM FUNDS ARE USED TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT: 1) IDENTIFY, ASSESS, AND APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO CHILD, YOUTH, AND ADULT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, DATING VIOLENCE, AND STALKING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES; 2) ESTABLISH AND EXPAND VICTIM SERVICES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES TO CHILD, YOUTH, AND ADULT VICTIMS; 3) INCREASE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, BY (A) DEALING DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, DATING VIOLENCE, AND STALKING; AND (B) CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND PREVENT THESE CRIMES; AND 4) DEVELOP, EXPAND, IMPLEMENT, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATION OR SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER PROGRAMS. GRANTEES MUST USE AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES IN IMPLEMENTING THEIR PROJECTS: 1) IMPLEMENT, EXPAND, AND ESTABLISH COOPERATIVE EFFORTS AND PROJECTS AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, PROSECUTORS, VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING; 2) PROVIDE TREATMENT, COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM VICTIM AND POPULATION SPECIFIC SERVICES TO ADULT AND MINOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES; 3) WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP EDUCATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES DIRECTED TOWARD SUCH ISSUES; 4) DEVELOP, ENLARGE, OR STRENGTHEN PROGRAMS ADDRESSING SEXUAL ASSAULT; AND 5) DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES THAT FOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF WHO RESIDE IN REMOTE RURAL AND GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED AREAS. THROUGH THIS CONTINUATION OVW RURAL PROGRAM PROJECT, THE ALASKA INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE (AIJ), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KODIAK WOMENS RESOURCE AND CRISIS CENTER (KWRCC) AND KODIAK POLICE DEPARTMENT (KPD), WILL IMPLEMENT THE LEGAL SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR RURAL AND REMOTE SURVIVORS IN ALASKA TO IMPROVE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE AND COORDINATION BETWEEN AGENCIES PROJECT. THIS VICTIM SERVICES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROJECT ADDRESSES THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE AREAS: 1, 2, AND 3 FOR ALL RURAL AREAS OF ALASKA. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: 1) HIRING A RURAL STAFF ATTORNEY AND FUNDING A SYSTEMS OUTREACH ADVOCATE AND A CASE MANAGEMENT POSITIONS TO PROVIDE CORE SERVICES FOR RURAL SURVIVORS; 2) HIRING A SYSTEMS OUTREACH ADVOCATE AND CASE MANAGEMENT PARTICIPATING IN COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE TEAM TO IMPROVE COORDINATION BETWEEN AGENCIES AND TO ENSURE SURVIVOR SAFETY AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS; 3) CREATING AWARENESS OPPORTUNITIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KWRCC THROUGH LEGAL CLINICS; 4) PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES STATEWIDE TO 100 SURVIVORS IN RURAL ALASKA ANNUALLY; AND 5) SUPPORTING LANGUAGE INTERPRETER CENTER FOR ACCESS TO TRAINED INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS IN OVER 100 LANGUAGES.

THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS (LAV) GRANT PROGRAM, AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 20121, IS INTENDED TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY AID VICTIMS (AGES 11 AND OLDER) OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, 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. LEGAL ASSISTANCE INCLUDES ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING IN: A) FAMILY, TRIBAL, TERRITORIAL, IMMIGRATION, EMPLOYMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, HOUSING MATTERS, CAMPUS ADMINISTRATIVE, OR PROTECTION OR STAY AWAY ORDER PROCEEDINGS, AND OTHER SIMILAR MATTERS; B) CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVESTIGATIONS, PROSECUTIONS, AND POST-TRIAL MATTERS (INCLUDING SENTENCING, PAROLE, AND PROBATION) THAT IMPACT THE VICTIMS SAFETY AND PRIVACY; C) ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, OR OTHER PROCESSES INTENDED TO PROMOTE VICTIM SAFETY, PRIVACY, AND AUTONOMY; AND D) POST-CONVICTION RELIEF PROCEEDINGS IN STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL, OR TERRITORIAL COURT WHERE THE CONVICTION OF A VICTIM IS RELATED TO OR ARISING FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, OR SEX TRAFFICKING. 34 U.S.C. 12291(A)(24)(C). THROUGH THIS NEW LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS PROJECT, ALASKA INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STANDING TOGETHER AGAINST RAPE (STAR), WILL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, STALKING, AND/OR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING STATUTORY CONSIDERATION: IMPROVE THE AVAILABILITY OF LEGAL SERVICES FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS BY FOCUSING FIFTY PERCENT OF GRANT-FUNDED ACTIVITIES FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, INCLUDING VICTIMS OF NON-INTIMATE PARTNER SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THE RURAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING PROGRAM (RURAL PROGRAM) IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. § 12341. RURAL PROGRAM FUNDS ARE USED TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT: A) IDENTIFY, ASSESS, AND APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO CHILD, YOUTH, AND ADULT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES; B) ESTABLISH AND EXPAND VICTIM SERVICES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES FOR CHILD, YOUTH, AND ADULT VICTIMS; AND/OR C) INCREASE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES BY DEALING DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING, AND CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND PREVENT THESE CRIMES. GRANTEES MUST USE AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES IN IMPLEMENTING THEIR PROJECTS: A) IMPLEMENT, EXPAND, AND ESTABLISH COOPERATIVE EFFORTS AND PROJECTS AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, PROSECUTORS, VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING; B) PROVIDE TREATMENT, COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER LONG- AND SHORT-TERM ASSISTANCE TO ADULT AND MINOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES; C) WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP EDUCATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES DIRECTED TOWARD SUCH ISSUES; D) DEVELOP, ENLARGE, OR STRENGTHEN PROGRAMS ADDRESSING SEXUAL ASSAULT; AND E) DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES THAT FOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF VICTIMS WHO RESIDE IN REMOTE RURAL AND GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED AREAS.     THE TIMING FOR PERFORMANCE OF THIS AWARD IS 36 MONTHS.

COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL & LANGUAGE ACCESS SERVICES TO RURAL UNDERSERVED IMMIGRANT & LIMITED ENGLISH SURVIVORS INCLUDING VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT

SPECIALIZED LEGAL SERVICES TO SUPPORT VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN RURAL ALASKA COMMUNITIES

SPECIALIZED LEGAL SERVICES AND LANGUAGE ACCESS SERVICES FOR UNSERVED AND LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT LABOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

STATEWIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FOR ALL ADULT AND MINOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN (SEX AND LABOR) TRAFFICKING IN ALASKA

RESILIENT ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES: INTEGRATING TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE WITH RISK ASSESSMENT THROUGH LOCAL MONITORING

RESILIENT ALASKA NATIVE COASTAL COMMUNITIES: INTEGRATED SOCIAL ECOLOGICAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT SUPPORTING ADAPTIVE DECISIONS.

ENHANCING ACCESS TO SERVICES IN ALASKA