Legal Advocacy Services

The Community Justice Program (CJP) is a partner agency that is located on site at Arise Sexual Assault Services. CJP provides free Legal services to Survivors in our office. The Legal Advocate can provide assistance and advocacy to the Survivor in navigating the legal process and attorneys are available to provide legal representation for a wide variety of legal problems.

The Community Justice Program is able to help in many diverse ways. 
Safety Planning: An important part of working with Survivors is ensuring that they feel safe after the assault. In some cases, an Order of Protection may be helpful. The Community Justice Program can provide the paperwork specific to each county and help the Survivor file the paperwork. Law Enforcement can file an Emergency Order of Protection that lasts up to 48 hours, but the Survivor files an application the next business day for a standard Order of Protection. 
The Community Justice Program can also help Survivors negotiate housing if they feel they are in danger in their homes. This might include early termination of a lease, increased safety measures installed at an apartment complex, or a change in public housing.
If the Survivor feels in danger in his or her workplace or is unable to go to work for a period of time, the Community Justice Program can help the Survivor to negotiate a different work schedule, a leave of absence, or other reasonable accommodations.

The Survivor has many rights that he or she may not be aware of when going through the criminal justice system. Privacy is often a central concern for survivors. The District Attorney's Offices will represent the state in a criminal case and their staff will explain crime victims' rights to the survivor. The Community Justice Program can also explain these rights to the Survivor and the CJP can represent the Survivor on privacy matters in a criminal case.

The Crime Victims Reparations Commission provides resources to Survivors to help cover costs including mileage, lodging, extra medical services, and other expenses related to treatment for sexual assault. The Community Justice Program can provide the application, explain qualification for the funding, and help in filing the application. 
Survivors who are in the U.S. temporarily, or who are in the United States without residency documents, are in a difficult situation. Many are afraid to report due to fear of deportation. Survivors who report a perpetrator to law enforcement and are helpful in the investigation may qualify for a U-Visa, which gives the Survivor and his or her dependents legal residency status in the United States. The Community Justice Project works with a partner agency to provide representation on these legal issues.

A sexual assault can result in unforeseen expenses and financial strain. When clients meet the eligibility requirements, the Community Justice Program can help Survivors in trying to access and apply for public benefits. The Community Justice Project can also assist clients in gathering documentation for proving the need for restitution in a criminal case against a perpetrator.

In the University setting, the Community Justice Program can help student Survivors who need accommodation due to an assault. For example, if the student is in a class with the perpetrator, working in an on campus position, or living in campus housing, there are federal laws that may offer some help to the survivor. Title IX defines school responsibilities for response to a report of a sexual assault on campus, and how they should seek to lessen the harm to the survivor. The Community Justice Program can help the student in pursuing adjudication through the school, filing no contact orders through the campus, and ensuring that all measures are being taken to accommodate the Survivor and ensure Survivor safety. The Community Justice Program can also help in the process of filing complaints through the Office of Civil Rights or in filing civil claims against the educational institution if the school does not handle the situation as required by law.

To reach the Community Justice Program, please call the Legal Advocate through the Arise Crisis Hotline at 575.226.7263.

Accessing services early improves our ability to serve you. We want to preserve your options and all the things in your life that you have worked hard to attain. We look forward to your call.