American Samoa Legal Aid Inc

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.

THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS (LAV) GRANT (LAV) PROGRAM, AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. § 20121, INCREASES THE AVAILABILITY OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR ADULT AND YOUTH VICTIMS 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 IN: A) FAMILY, TRIBAL, TERRITORIAL, IMMIGRATION, EMPLOYMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, HOUSING MATTERS, CAMPUS ADMINISTRATIVE, OR PROTECTION OR STAY AWAY ORDER PROCEEDINGS, AND OTHER SIMILAR MATTERS; AND B) CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVESTIGATIONS, PROSECUTIONS, AND POST-TRIAL MATTERS (E.G., SENTENCING, PAROLE, AND PROBATION) THAT IMPACT THE VICTIM’S SAFETY AND PRIVACY. LAV FUNDS PROJECTS THAT IMPLEMENT, EXPAND, AND/OR ESTABLISH THIS COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH (1) COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, AND SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS; (2) EFFORTS BY ORGANIZATIONS WITH A DEMONSTRATED HISTORY OF PROVIDING DIRECT LEGAL OR ADVOCACY SERVICES ON BEHALF OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING; OR (3) COMPETENT SUPERVISED PRO BONO LEGAL ASSISTANCE. GRANTEES MUST EITHER DEMONSTRATE EXPERTISE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND/OR STALKING, OR PARTNER WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SUCH EXPERTISE. THE TIMING FOR PERFORMANCE OF THIS AWARD IS 36 MONTHS.

JUSTICE FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SEXUAL ASSAULT DATING VIOLENCE AND STALKING: BRINGING ACCESS TO JUSTICE TO SURVIVORS IN AMERICAN SAMOA