National Crime Victim Law Institute

Victim legal assistance. Since 2003, ncvli has been leading the National effort to enforce victims' rights through its Crime victims' rights enforcement projects. These projects ensure that victims have access to trained no cost (pro bono, and low bono) attorneys and advocates to secure for them meaningful rights through the exercise of those rights in state, federal, military and tribal trial and appellate courts nationwide. This past year, accomplishments of note were many - some were ongoing efforts and others as new initiatives. The work of three ongoing projects are noted here. First, to ensure National capacity ncvli continued projects that provide training and technical assistance nationwide to groups creating and operating Victim legal assistance efforts to ensure survivors have access to legal services at no cost with a focus on rights enforcement.second, ncvli responded to requests for legal technical assistance (i.e., legal research, writing, and strategic litigation advice) and filed amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs in cases across the country. Third, ncvli continued to develop and maintain its membership alliance, the National alliance of victims' rights attorneys & advocates (navra), which has a National and international membership of attorneys, advocates, and students. Navra promotes the exchange of knowledge and resources to foster a National network of skilled attorneys and advocates to represent and assist Crime victims in the criminal justice system. Navra has a dedicated website (www.navra.org) with search databases of cases, sample pleadings and legal memoranda. Navra also routinely sponsors online continuing legal education (cle) opportunities. There were over 3,000 ative members representing all 50 states.

Ncvli's work with students continued. Specifically ncvli continued its internship/externship program which is open to undergraduate, graduate and Law students, and taught the Crime Victim litigation clinic of the lewis & clark Law school, which provided second- and third-year Law students the opportunity to support ongoing National Victim litigation and research through this program. Ncvli's director also teaches a substantive Crime Victim course at lewis & clark Law school.

Education on victims' rights: ncvli's dedication to educating on the current status and future horizon of victims' rights is demonstrated through trainings, publications and collaborations with other justice entities. Over the year, ncvli trained attorneys, advocates, justice & allied professionals on the meaning and enforceability of victims' rights. These trainings included intensive in-person trainings and lectures, technology-assisted trainings, and victims' rights educational materials. Central to ncvli's training effort were (1) the annual Crime Victim Law conference, traditionally held in portland, Oregon but offered in a hybrid fashion during the pandemic, which offered a wide range of training for novice and experienced attorneys and advocates on Crime Victim Law practice and policy; (2) the state Victim assistance academy, at which ncvli provides foundational and advanced learning opportunities for Victim advocates. Education is also achieved through partnerships; (3) trainings and resources for Law enforcement on victims' rights; and (4) trainings and resources for service providers working with military-connected victims.