Every 38 minutes in Nevada, someone experiences a violent crime.

That’s according to the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, an organization giving legal assistance in a vast variety of situations. The center represents every child in foster care, aids in consumer protection issues, and helps people navigate family law. It is also a place connecting violent crime victims to important resources.

And now, the center, which has been in Nevada since 1958, is expanding. Executive Director Barbara Buckley shared why a new building is needed for Legal Aid Center’s mission.

"We cannot add one more person unless we expand."

- Barbara Buckley, Executive Director, Legal Aid Center

“Over the last 10 years, the number of individuals being served by the Legal Aid Center has nearly quadrupled. We went from 58,000 to 200,000 last year,” she told Nevada Week host Amber Renee Dixon. "And with that expansion came size constraints. We’re completely out of space, and we cannot add one more person unless we expand."

The Advocacy and Justice Complex will be at the site of a former Frontier Fidelity Savings and Loan Building at Gass Ave. and 8th Street. It is across the street from the Legal Aid Center’s headquarters, and both buildings will be used for a variety of services. The new building will become the permanent home of the Resiliency and Justice Center, which helps victims of crime. 

Buckley explained when and how it became a major priority for the Center to focus on violent crime victims.

"October 2nd, 2017, right after the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting, we received a call from Clark County saying, 'The federal government’s flying in, the state’s flying in. We need to find a way to serve the families of the victims and the survivors of the shooting. We need to set up long-term services.' And we didn’t have any setup,” she said.

The Vegas Strong Resiliency Center was born, and work began to get survivors and victims’ families financial aid. They assisted people needing legal help, and got counseling out to people who were struggling in the aftermath of the shooting. While the name has since changed to the Resiliency and Justice Center, the work continues to help all victims of crime in Southern Nevada. 

"Our goal is to build resiliency, to build strength. 

And providing that immediate support is life-changing." 

- Barbara Buckley, Executive Director, Legal Aid Center

Buckley says an organization offering both legal services and mental health services to victims of crime is the first of its kind in the nation.

"When you’re suffering from a trauma, it’s hard to put one foot ahead of each other,” she said. "Our goal is to build resiliency, to build strength. And providing that immediate support is life-changing."

The Advocacy and Justice Complex will also house The Family Justice Project, a program helping survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. It will also be home to The Guardianship Advocacy Project, a program working to protect the elderly from exploitation. 

The groundbreaking is planned for June 2025, and the work is expected to be complete by August 2026.