Legislation

42 U.S.C.A. § 3796gg-6.
Legal assistance for victims
(a) In general
The purpose of this section is to enable the Attorney General to award grants to increase the
availability of civil and criminal legal assistance necessary to provide effective aid to adult and
youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault who are seeking
relief in legal matters arising as a consequence of that abuse or violence, at minimal or no cost to
the victims. Criminal legal assistance provided for under this section shall be limited to criminal
matters relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
(b) Definitions
In this section, the definitions provided in section 40002 of the Violence Against Women Act of
1994 shall apply.
(c) Legal assistance for victims grants
The Attorney General may award grants under this subsection to private nonprofit entities,
Indian tribal governments, and tribal organizations, territorial organizations and publicly funded
organizations not acting in a governmental capacity such as law schools, and which shall be
used-(1) to implement, expand, and establish cooperative efforts and projects between domestic
violence, dating violence, and sexual assault victim services organizations and legal assistance
providers to provide legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence,
stalking, and sexual assault;
(2) to implement, expand, and establish efforts and projects to provide legal assistance for
victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault by organizations
with a demonstrated history of providing direct legal or advocacy services on behalf of these
victims; and
(3) to provide training, technical assistance, and data collection to improve the capacity of
grantees and other entities to offer legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating
violence, stalking, and sexual assault.
(d) Eligibility
To be eligible for a grant under subsection (c) of this section, applicants shall certify in writing
that-(1) any person providing legal assistance through a program funded under subsection (c) of this
section has completed or will complete training in connection with domestic violence, dating

violence, or sexual assault and related legal issues;
(2) any training program conducted in satisfaction of the requirement of paragraph (1) has been
or will be developed with input from and in collaboration with a tribal, State, territorial, or
local domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking organization or coalition, as
well as appropriate tribal, State, territorial, and local law enforcement officials;
(3) any person or organization providing legal assistance through a program funded under
subsection (c) of this section has informed and will continue to inform State, local, or tribal
domestic violence, dating violence, or sexual assault programs and coalitions, as well as
appropriate State and local law enforcement officials of their work; and
(4) the grantee's organizational policies do not require mediation or counseling involving
offenders and victims physically together, in cases where sexual assault, domestic violence,
dating violence, or child sexual abuse is an issue.
(e) Evaluation
The Attorney General may evaluate the grants funded under this section through contracts or
other arrangements with entities expert on domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and
sexual assault, and on evaluation research.
(f) Authorization of appropriations
(1) In general
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $65,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2007 through 2011.
(2) Allocation of funds
(A) Tribal programs
Of the amount made available under this subsection in each fiscal year, not less than 3
percent shall be used for grants for programs that assist adult and youth victims of domestic
violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault on lands within the jurisdiction of an
Indian tribe.
(B) Tribal government program
(i) In general

Not less than 7 percent of the total amount available under this section for each fiscal year
shall be available for grants under the program authorized by section 3796gg-10 of this
title.

(ii) Applicability of part
The requirements of this section shall not apply to funds allocated for the program
described in clause (i).
(C) Victims of sexual assault
Of the amount made available under this subsection in each fiscal year, not less than 25
percent shall be used for direct services, training, and technical assistance to support projects
focused solely or primarily on providing legal assistance to victims of sexual assault.
(3) Nonsupplantation
Amounts made available under this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant other
Federal, State, and local funds expended to further the purpose of this section.