Violence Support Legal Information & Assistance

Legal Assistance for Victims of Violence

Many resources exist for those who potentially need legal help.

Legal Information and Assistance for those who may need help

Victim Rights Law Center (VRLC)
617-399-6720
Provide sexual assault victims with free legal help

Greater Boston Legal Services
617-371-1234
Provides free civil (non-criminal) legal assistance to low-income people. Services range from legal advice to full case representation.

Casa Myrna Vasquez Legal Helpline
617-521-0146
Provides full representation for victims of domestic violence in Probate and Family Court matters.

It Happened to Alexa Foundation
877-772-5392
716-754-9105
Established in 2003, this foundation assists rape victims and families with travel and lodging expenses during the litigation process of criminal trials.

Victim Witness Assistance Program
617-619-4000
Provides information, support, and assistance to crime victims, including victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault, child, disabled, and elderly victims, and survivors of homicide.

Victim Law
A comprehensive on-line user-friendly database of state, federal, and tribal victims' rights, laws, and protections, including more than 15,000 victims' rights statutes (state and federal), tribal laws, constitutional amendments, court rules, and administrative code provisions.

MassLegalHelp
Provides information on resources on legal issues including domestic violence, obtaining a restraining order, child support, immigration rights to advocates and victims of violence. Online assistance with finding free legal aid.

Victim Compensation Applications
Victims of violent crimes, dependents and family members of homicide victims, and any person who is responsible for funeral expenses of a homicide victim in the State of Massachusetts may be eligible for compensation for certain expenses.

Learn more about the eligibility requirements and download the application in both English and Spanish via Mass.gov:

These programs help batterers understand the negative impact of their abuse on their victims and children. Batterers are taught about non-abusive behavior and are encouraged to treat their partners with respect.

For more information, visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health webpage.