About
Crime victims often experience difficult legal problems that can’t be solved through the criminal law system. For example, a victim of an assault may be unable to work, leading to financial distress including an eviction and debt collection problems. Or, a survivor of domestic violence may need legal help to get a divorce and child support.
The Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime Initiative — CLAVC — helps victims of crime throughout Massachusetts with their related civil legal problems — including family law, housing, immigration, disability rights, child welfare, education, consumer, identity theft, employment rights and public benefits.
Need Help?
If you are the victim of a crime and need legal help, please visit www.massclavc.org to learn how to apply for assistance.
CLAVC Programs
Nine CLAVC-funded civil legal aid programs provide direct legal service:
• Community Legal Aid (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester Counties)
• De Novo (formerly CLSACC) (Greater Boston)
• Greater Boston Legal Services (Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts)
• MetroWest Legal Services (Framingham, Metro West region and Southern Norfolk County)
• Northeast Legal Aid (Essex and Northern Middlesex Counties – Northeastern Massachusetts)
• South Coastal Counties Legal Services (Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket and Plymouth Counties, and the towns of Avon and Stoughton)
• Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts (Serving children and youth statewide)
• Disability Law Center (Serving people with disabilities statewide)
• Victim Rights Law Center (Serving victims of sexual assault statewide)
Jane Doe, Inc. and the National Consumer Law Center provide training and support. The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation also provide training, support and overall CLAVC project coordination.
Funding
The CLAVC Initiative is supported by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance through a Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. MOVA advocates for and assists victims of crime through survivor-informed policy development, fund administration, training, and individual assistance.