Minnesota Victim Legal Services Project

The Wraparound Victim Legal Assistance Network Demonstration Project will support 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. Funding for this second project phase will support a detailed implementation plan that includes policies, procedures, and protocols for providing victims with necessary legal services and referrals within the network. With funding transferred from OVC, the National Institute of Justice will support an evaluation of the demonstration project to occur concurrently with the project. With funding under this demonstration project, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety will implement a demonstration model of comprehensive wraparound legal assistance to crime victims in rural, urban, and tribal settings in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is the new fiscal agent on a project original awarded to the Minnesota Council on Crime & Justice in FY 2012. The grantee is expected to participate in the NIJ evaluation as requested by NIJ or its designee. nca/ncf.