Texas Crime Victim Legal Assistance Network

The Wraparound Victim Legal Assistance Network Demonstration Project supports the development of models for networks that collaboratively provide free, comprehensive, holistic legal assistance to victims to address the range of legal needs that may arise in the wake of victimization. At a minimum, the sites will provide legal services that include civil legal assistance (including, but not limited to, family, custody and dependency, employment, and administrative issues related to the victimization); enforcement of victims' rights in criminal proceedings; assistance for victims of identity theft and financial fraud; and immigration assistance for human trafficking victims and battered immigrant women.

In the needs assessment phase, the grantees undertook extensive planning including formation of a steering committee or governing body made up of network partners, conducting a comprehensive needs assessment, and development of a detailed implementation plan that includes policies, procedures, and protocols for providing victims with necessary legal services and referrals within the network. Implementation of the plans developed for providing direct legal services to victims of crime through the legal assistance network began in the latter part of the last project year. Under the continuation award, each grantee will continue to partner with a local, external researcher to work with the network partners to support the implementation, management, and administration of the network. With funding transferred from OVC, the National Institute of Justice will continue to support an evaluation of the demonstration project occurring concurrently with the project.

With funding under this demonstration project, Lone Star Legal Aid will continue of its plan provide legal services to victims through a legal assistance network covering 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf coast regions of Texas.

nca/ncf

The Wraparound Victim Legal Assistance Network Demonstration Project supports the development of models for networks that collaboratively provide free, comprehensive, holistic legal assistance to victims to address the range of legal needs that may arise in the wake of victimization. At a minimum, the sites will provide legal services that include civil legal assistance (including, but not limited to, family, custody and dependency, employment, and administrative issues related to the victimization); enforcement of victims' rights in criminal proceedings; assistance for victims of identity theft and financial fraud; and immigration assistance for human trafficking victims and battered immigrant women. In the needs assessment phase, the grantees undertook extensive planning including formation of a steering committee or governing body made up of network partners, conducting a comprehensive needs assessment, and development of a detailed implementation plan that includes policies, procedures, and protocols for providing victims with necessary legal services and referrals within the network. Implementation of the plans developed for providing direct legal services to victims of crime through the legal assistance network began in the latter part of the last project year. The specific purpose of this phase is to complete implementation of the Network across the entire 72-county TXCVLAN region and achieve the overall project goal to establish a comprehensive, coordinated, collaborative network of free wraparound legal services that holistically address the full range of crime victims’ legal needs in connection with their victimization. With funding under this demonstration project, Lone Star Legal Aid will continue of its plan provide legal services to victims through a legal assistance network covering 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf coast regions of Texas.
NCA/NCF