Throughout the years the Texas Legislature has created a system of legal protections for victims of family violence. Protective orders have been the primary civil legal remedy since 1979. The advantage of these orders is the criminal penalty that occurs when the orders are disobeyed. Over time, protective orders have come to protect not only members of the same family but members of the same household and individuals who have or have had a dating relationship and victims of sexual assault as well. The District Attorney’s Office is committed to helping these victims obtain enforceable protective orders.

Presently, the three secretaries from the Juvenile Law and Department of Family and Protective Services sections conduct a preliminary screening of protective order applicants. Upon passing this initial inquiry, an applicant meets with a prosecutor who then handles the case from the intake stage, through filing and until disposition. Currently, the prosecutors from the Juvenile Law and Department of Family and Protective Services sections handle these responsibilities on a rotation basis.