The Bexar County Family Justice Center can help you change the pattern of violence that dominates your life! The Bexar County Criminal District Attorney’s Office Protective Order Unit assists clients who choose to apply for a protective order or obtain information about criminal charges. Trained Victim Advocates, Paralegals, Office Assistants, Assistant District Attorneys and an Investigator provide services to victims and explain the criminal justice process.

What Is a Protective Order?

A Protective Order:

Orders a person not to commit any violence.
Orders a person not to come within a certain distance of where the victim lives and works and of the victim’s children, their home, school, day care or baby sitter.
Orders a person not to communicate with the victim indirectly in a way that is harassing or threatening.
Prevents a person from harassing, annoying, alarming, abusing, tormenting or embarrassing the victim or a member of the victim’s family or household.
If you are still living together, requires the defendant to move out.

Who is Entitled to a Protective Order?

The person who committed the family violence (the defendant) against the victim must be at least one of the following:

Related to the victim by blood or marriage
Living with the victim or have lived with the victim in the past
Have had a child with the victim
Have a continuing dating relationship with the victim or have had a continuing dating relationship with the victim
Have sexually assaulted the victim

*Third party victims may also apply for a protective order. A third party victim is defined as an individual who is married to or in a dating relationship with another individual who had a prior relationship with the defendant.

How to Apply?

You will be required to fill out an application giving us information on yourself and the person you are making the complaint against (the defendant). If you cannot fill out the application, we will help you.

An advocate will gather all the facts and information regarding your case. They will assist you with any questions you may have about the criminal justice system throughout the protective order and judicial process. An advocate will also refer the applicant to various agencies for appropriate services.

The application process for a protective order is 2 – 3 hours. Once the application process is completed, the case will be reviewed to determine whether to send the defendant a warning letter, raise a bond, secure a no-contact order or request a protective order. The review process takes 2 – 4 weeks.

What Should I Bring?

To apply for a protective order, the applicant will need:
An identification card
A current address on the defendant
Police reports or police report numbers

Protective Orders