Every year at the Virginia General Assembly, VPLC supports, opposes and/or works to amend legislative initiatives that affect domestic and sexual violence victims. This year is no exception. As we approach Crossover (the point at which each chamber—the House of Delegates and the Senate—must finish hearing its own bills), we’ve highlighted some of the bills […]

* If you are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, please call the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238 or visit this site to find the domestic violence program in your area.*   October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  We wanted to take this opportunity to highlight top 5 things you […]

The following is a blog post from VPLC’s domestic and sexual violence attorney, Susheela Varky: I was in the doctor’s office yesterday, about to be prepped for a routine procedure. The two nurses who just verified my information and injected an IV into my arm went back to the nurse’s station. “He punched her, and […]

By Monique Coppola, Public News Service- VA Imagine you are a victim of domestic violence or abuse, and you have a court order against your abuser. You feel unsafe in your home and want to move – to be out of harm’s way. Now, imagine your landlord will not let you out of your lease […]

S. 47, the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), passed the House on February 28, 2013, and is now on its way to the President. Eighty-seven Republicans crossed party lines to support an inclusive bill, and it passed by a vote of 286-138. The reauthorization bill enhances responses to sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking […]

Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Michael Crapo (R-ID) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have joined a coalition of bi-partisan Senators to co-sponsor the VAWA reauthorization bill (S.47) and take action to ensure VAWA’s swift passage.  The U.S. Senate voted by a wide margin, […]

By Monique Coppola, Public News Service-VA Reauthorization of the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) remains in limbo. The legislation has implications for the victims of rape, stalking and domestic violence in Virginia and around the nation. Originally enacted in 1994, the Senate passed a reauthorization last month (S. 1925) with expanded protections for Native […]

Programs that provide legal assistance, shelter, counseling, and other support for victims of domestic and sexual abuse are in jeopardy throughout Virginia, as lawmakers in Washington battle over reauthorization of the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Legal Aid, which is in the vanguard of protecting victims, is already in a fiscal crisis, due to […]

More victims of sexual assault, stalking and dating violence are coming forward and receiving the help they need, statistics show, and the criminal-justice system now is better equipped to protect them and hold perpetrators accountable. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and groups in Virginia are highlighting the importance of the federal Violence Against Women […]

With another General Assembly session behind us, the staff at the Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) has had some time to reflect on what our advocacy work means and why it matters. Regardless of which political party holds a majority in the state legislature, and in spite of the often negative rhetoric that comes with […]