Legal Assistance for Victimized Adults (LAVA) Project

LAVA Project (Legal Assistance for Victimized Adults) 

Quick links: 

• Unsure if you need legal assistance?  Complete our online Indiana Legal Risk Detector: https://probononet.neotalogic.com/a/indianariskdetector 

• To apply for assistance and for program inquiries, call: 317-829-3104 

Who We Serve 

If you are a senior (age 60+) or an endangered adult (age 18+ with a disability) and are the victim of a crime, including abuse and financial exploitation, we can help you.  There are no income or asset limits to qualify for LAVA Project services.  We serve all 92 counties in Indiana with staff in Bloomington, Indianapolis, and South Bend. 

Our Mission 

The LAVA Project’s purpose is to assist those who have been impacted by the criminal actions of others and to seek justice for those who cannot speak for themselves or have been denied access to justice due to age, disabilities, race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.  Our goal is to ease or eliminate the negative effects of these crimes by providing free civil legal services and social work support to our clients. 

What We Do 

We can provide you with confidential legal advice to know your rights and options as well as assist you in legal claims against adverse parties.  We write advice letters, assist with negotiations, and litigate cases in court. 

We can help you apply for assistance through the Indiana Victim Compensation Program (CJI: Victim Compensation: Home (in.gov)), if you qualify. 

Social Support and Resources 

We are here to help and offer support.  This includes connecting you with non-legal resources you may need and offering support as you navigate the legal process. 

The LAVA Project has a Social Worker on staff to assist our clients with a wide range of issues outside of their legal issues, including but not limited to: 

• Housing/Rental Resources 

• Food Assistance Resources 

• Mental Health Resources 

• Public Benefits Assistance Referrals 

Case Type Examples 

We will consider offering civil legal assistance for any issue related to the commission of a crime. 

These are some of the most common case types we help with, but this list is not exhaustive. 

• Power of Attorney Abuse – revocations, accountings 

• Domestic Violence – protection orders, divorce 

• Unwanted Abusive Housemates – eviction, trespass 

• Theft/Conversion of Property 

• Consumer Fraud and Scams 

• Guardianship Termination and Accountings 

We are here to help you. 

Funding for the LAVA Project is principally provided by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.  (CJI: Home (in.gov))