National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) Narrows Focus to High-Impact Litigation to Protect Mission Integrity

For Immediate Release
June 30, 2025

 The National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI), the only national legal institute solely dedicated to advancing victims’ rights, announced today a strategic narrowing of its operations to focus exclusively on its most mission-critical work: precedent-setting litigation.

This decision reflects a deliberate planning process that began in fall 2024 and recently gained urgency as shifting funding landscapes posed a growing threat to the organization’s independence and integrity.

While government grants are and may become available again, many of these dollars would require alignment with agendas or priorities that would compromise NCVLI’s core values. Rather than apply for these grants or accept resources that would dilute its principled approach, NCVLI is making the difficult but resolute choice to streamline its operations.

“NCVLI’s mission matters too much to bargain it away,” said Sean Riddel, President of the Board of Directors. “We are committed to staying rooted in the values that define us—even if that means a small staff that is doing less, strategically.”

Going forward, NCVLI will center its work on high-impact litigation efforts, including amicus curiae advocacy and appellate representation in collaboration with allied organizations across the country. This sharpened focus will continue to be anchored at the Crime Victim Litigation Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School, led by Professor Meg Garvin, where the next generation of lawyers is trained to protect and advance victims’ rights.

“This is about using our voice where it matters most—at the highest levels of the courts,” said Meg Garvin, Executive Director. “We’re stepping into our strengths to focus more directly on the courts so that they cannot ignore victims’ rights.”

To support this shift, NCVLI will significantly scale back its capacity-building and training initiatives. While these programs have long served the broader victims’ rights field, they are resource-intensive and less central to the organization’s unique role in driving legal precedent.

Existing tools—such as the Victim Law Library, Rights Enforcement Toolkits, and NAVRA’s searchable legal databases—will remain accessible, ensuring the field continues to benefit from NCVLI’s deep legal expertise, even as the organization narrows its focus to the work that is most transformative and uniquely its own.

NCVLI is committed to transparency during this transition and will continue to provide updates to its community of supporters, clients, and partners.

Meg Garvin, MA, JD, MsT – Executive Director
Sean Riddell, JD – Board President
National Crime Victim Law Institute

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