Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Project (BWLAP)

The Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Project (BWLAP) was formed as an independent nonprofit agency in 1996. Over the past 12 years, we have established a statewide reputation as a premiere legal resource for battered women and children, as well as those who work with battered women and children (advocates, attorneys, county social service workers, immigration staff, law enforcement and housing service providers and other system professionals). While our services are centered on the legal aspects of domestic violence, the range of our expertise is exceedingly broad, therefore, each year we provide services to thousands of battered women and their advocates in areas including but not limited to: orders for protection, harassment restraining orders, housing assistance, immigration, child custody issues and stalking. MORE INFO
Minnesota's stalking statute has languished, underused, for the last 13 years. The crime of stalking is so unlike the evidence-based crime police officers see day in and day out that officers must relearn what constitutes a crime in order to begin to even recognize stalking behaviors. The Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Project's stalking program works to create a seamless partnership between police, advocates and prosecutors that serves all aspects of the victim's needs and effectively combats the crime. MORE INFO
Within a county, the Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Project (BWLAP) brings together representatives of the courts, legal services, law enforcement, prosecution, child protection, advocacy, health services, and other professionals working in the field of domestic violence. This team evaluates the existing services within their county by gaining insight from victims of domestic violence and their communities. Then, the team drafts, adopts and trains new protocols and interagency agreements. This model has been extremely successful within the sexual assault movement throughout the state, building and enhancing system relationships across disciplines while improving the system's response to victims. MORE INFO
The Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Project (BWLAP) brings together domestic violence advocates and battered/formerly battered immigrant and refugee women living in the State of Minnesota. Together, they assess the most pressing safety and resource needs of immigrant and refugee battered women. These advocates and community women serve as advisers for BWLAP and help guide the development of the program. MORE INFO

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07.29.2010: New Laws Registration Now OPEN! : Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project is proud to announce our seventeenth annual New Laws Training!