VAWA II, SEC. 453.
SEC. 453. GRANTS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
(a) ELIGIBLE GRANTEES- Eligible grantees are--
(1) domestic violence programs;
(2) State, tribal, and local bar associations;
(3) law school clinical programs;
(4) nonprofit legal services;
(5) court-based pro se programs;
(6) bar association or domestic violence legal information and referral services or hotlines;
(7) State coalitions of domestic violence programs; and
(8) tribes and tribally recognized organizations.
(b) ELIGIBLE SERVICES- Activities funded under this subtitle shall be designed to further the health, safety, and economic needs of victims of domestic violence through legal assistance for victims of
domestic violence in any civil action, administrative proceeding, criminal cases where the defendant advances a claim of duress or defense of self or other or in clemency proceedings. Activities funded
under this subtitle shall include legal assistance on behalf of--
(1) low-income and indigent persons; or
(2) persons who have inadequate access to sufficient financial resources to secure appropriate legal assistance.
(c) GRANT AUTHORITY- The Attorney General may make grants for the following purposes:
(1) To enhance the availability and quality of legal assistance to victims of domestic violence through efforts directed at stopping the violence, enhancing victim safety, assuring economic protection
and well-being or protecting child victims of domestic violence.
(2) To encourage the development of partnerships between domestic violence programs and the full spectrum of legal representation and advocacy programs, including the following: private
practitioners, Government and public sector lawyers, direct legal services programs, bar associations, legal hotlines, and clinical law school initiatives.
(3) To increase the participation of the private bar in pro bono or low-cost representation of and assistance to victims of domestic violence.
(4) To improve judicial and administrative handling of pro se cases involving victims of domestic violence.
(5) To enhance the availability and quality of legal representation through increasing programs on domestic violence in law schools and in continuing professional education program.
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