Providing free legal aid to domestic violence victims not only protects many women from greater harm, it is also cost-effective over the long-term, according to a new report by the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University School of Law. The report, Supporting Victims: The Economic Benefits of Providing Civil Legal Assistance to Survivors of Domestic Violence, found that free legal support may avoid or mitigate many of the costs associated with domestic violence, such as medical and mental health care services, lost productivity, and lost lifetime earnings. This is because victims who receive assistance from an attorney are more likely to secure an order for protection against their abuser and to protect other personal and financial rights.
Compiled from: Jeltsen, Melissa, One Simple Idea that Could Reduce Domestic Violence, The Huffington Post (July 21, 2015).