The US Department of Justice recently awarded approximately half-a-million dollars to the Northeast New Jersey Legal Services to fund the “Hudson Legal Assistance for Victims Project.” According to authorities, the Hackensack-based not-for-profit legal center will utilize the grant to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse in Hudson County, NJ. Specifically, the award will be focused on providing free legal services to those who require assistance with handling litigation related to domestic violence and sexual assault.
According to the executive director of the Northeast New Jersey Legal Services, John H. Fitzgerald, the three-year grant will go directly toward helping victims obtain restraining orders to protect the victims from their attackers. Fitzgerald further stated that “as Hudson County continues to grow, we must do more to ensure that all of our community’s residents are aware of their rights and feel comfortable accessing the legal services they need so they can be safe and free from violence.” In fact, Northeast New Jersey Legal Services will be partnering with Hudson County’s WomenRising and S.P.E.A.K.S., the county’s domestic violence and sexual assault service providers, to provide legal education, case management, and counseling to victims.
Although this particular grant will be used to assist the victims of domestic violence in Hudson County, there are a number of various service providers throughout the State of New Jersey that provide services and legal advocacy for the victims of domestic violence, specifically those that are seeking to obtain a restraining order. Generally, each county has an organization that is available on a 24/7 basis to assist victims of domestic violence with emergency shelter, transitional housing, individual therapy, group counseling, and legal advocacy.
Can I get a free lawyer for my domestic violence trial in NJ?
In addition to the services available to the public, another option for victims of domestic violence is to contact a private attorney who specializes in handling domestic violence cases and who has helped the victims of domestic violence with every step along the way to obtaining a final restraining order.
