Survivors who find themselves in the criminal legal system as defendants will already have an attorney appointed to represent them or will have paid for a private criminal defense attorney.

Survivors who have been released from prison or are currently navigating the criminal legal system may need a civil legal services attorney who can help them fight discrimination in areas of employment, housing, or access to government benefits.

Advocates can help survivors by ensuring that their attorney understands the role domestic violence has played in their lives, increasing an attorney’s understanding of the impact of trauma, and ensure the attorney is aware of the Domestic Violence Survivor's Justice Act. You can find resources for working with attorneys on the "articles and toolkits” or “resources” tab.

Most of the links below will redirect you to the organizations' webpages.

  • The Incarcerated Gender Violence Survivors Initiative works with pro bono attorneys to provide direct representation to incarcerated survivors of gender-based violence. IGVSI assists survivors with complex legal matters, including:
    - Sentencing or resentencing under New York’s Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA)
    - Criminal defense representation and appeals
    - Parole preparation
    - Clemency

Civil Legal Resources

This collection contains resources to help survivors who have experienced criminalization with civil legal matters. These resources cover issues such as housing, family law, employment rights, and access to public benefits. You’ll find directories of legal service providers, guides on navigating civil courts, and tools to help ensure that survivors receive the legal protections and support they need to rebuild their lives after criminalization.

Criminal Legal Services

This collection provides resources to assist survivors who have experienced criminalization in navigating the criminal legal system. These materials address issues such as arrest, sentencing, incarceration, probation, and reentry. You’ll find directories of legal service providers, guides on understanding criminal proceedings, and tools to help advocates and survivors work effectively with defense attorneys, parole officers, and reentry programs. The goal of these resources is to ensure that survivors receive fair treatment, informed advocacy, and access to the services they need to move forward with stability and dignity.