Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2008, $84,963)
The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program (Byrne Discretionary Program) helps local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 08 Congressional Budget. Funds should be used for purposes recommended by Congress.
The Lafayette Parish Bar Foundation will increase domestic violence victim services by increasing referrals to the Protective Order Program (POP). The purpose of the POP is to protect those seeking assistance and facilitate the immediate and prompt access to, and enforcement of state and federal criminal laws that are specifically designed to protect victims and prosecute their offenders. The goals of the project are to: 1) increase the number of client intakes accepted annually by the Protective Order Panel; and 2) increase the number of pro bono volunteers willing to represent a victim of domestic violence crime. The Lafayette Parish Bar Foundation will aggressively recruit, educate, and train new volunteer attorneys for the program as well as provide free legal assistance to victims of domestic violence. Volunteer attorneys will be trained in all facets of the law for representing the target population, including sensitivity training which prepares them to better handle potential clients.
NCA/NCF