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Statewide Victim Liaison Project Report

Statewide Victim Liaison Project Report

Statewide Victim Liaison Project Report

Statewide Victim Liaison Project Report

Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking have multiple needs for legal assistance and are faced with a complex maze of criminal and civil justice systems. The need for legal services is even more complicated for Native American victims of these crimes, who not only are victimized at higher rates than the general population, but must navigate the added complexity of overlapping local, state, federal and tribal laws.

The Division of Victim Services (DVS) was awarded VOCA funds for the Statewide Victim Services Liaison Project (SVSLP) to better identify the barriers to civil legal assistance for rural and indigenous survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking and to develop a roadmap to enhance access to civil legal assistance in Michigan's rural and tribal communities. This report provides information on the project, process, and information that was gathered, as well as recommendations for increasing access to legal assistance and services for victims/survivors in these communities.


Resources

Michigan Resource Handbook for On-Reservation Victims of Crime

View handbook

Addressing Legal Gaps: The Case for More Attorneys in Tribal Courts (State Bar Article)

View article
Breaking The Cycle: The Role of Tribal Courts and Communities in Healing and Justice Video

Breaking The Cycle: The Role of Tribal Courts and Communities in Healing and Justice

Protecting Lives Across Jurisdictions: Enforcing Tribal Personal Protection Orders

Protecting Lives Across Jurisdictions: Enforcing Tribal Personal Protection Orders Video