• We are located at 424 Spruce, Texarkana, TX, 75501
• We are open Monday - Thursday from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM to serve the citizens of Bowie County, TX. Walk-in's welcome or call 903-794-4000 for an appointment or more information.

Here are some things you can bring with you, if they are available:

• Your picture I.D.
• Names and contact information for any witnesses.
• Address (work or home) for the Respondent (if applying for a protective order).
• Pictures.
• Recordings.
• Any other evidence (medical records, etc.) that you may think is important for us to know

• A protective order is a lawsuit that is filed in family court (like a divorce).
• A protective order can tell the Respondent to stay away from your home, workplace, and your children's school/daycare. It can protect pets. It can tell the Respondent not to harass, stalk, or threaten you. If the Respondent does these things in violation of the order, the Respondent can be charged with a criminal offense and arrested.
• Generally, once granted, a protective order is valid for two years.
• If you have already filed for a divorce or custody, you can ask your attorney to file one on your behalf.
• When you come to our office to apply for a protective order, you can meet with a specially trained family violence advocate or social worker who will assist you.
• If you initially qualify for the order, the advocate will type your statement and a file will be prepared for review by a prosecutor.
• After the prosecutor approves the filing of the order, the application is filed in family court.
• You will then receive a letter about your court date.
• There are several things that must be proved to obtain a protective order:
• The District Attorney's Office must have jurisdiction. That means that either you or the Respondent (abuser) lives in Bowie County OR the violence occurred in Bowie County.
• You must have had a dating, family, or household relationship with the Respondent. That includes current spouses, former spouses, blood relatives, people related by marriage, parents of the same child, household members, or people who dated.
• We have to personally serve (give him or her papers in PERSON) the Respondent. This is why we must have a physical address for Respondent. The Respondent can be served at home, at work, at a probation or parole appointment, or during a court date.
• We must be able to prove that family violence occurred. Family violence means that you were assaulted (includes hitting, kicking, punching, hair pulling, slapping, punching, strangulation, shooting, stabbing, forcing to have sex, etc.) and/or that you were threatened with violence (the Respondent said they would kill you, hit you, pointed a gun at you, etc.).
• We have to show that family violence is likely to continue in the future. This means that based on the Respondent's behavior, we can show that he won't stop (follows you, constantly calls or texts you, etc.).
• A divorce or custody cannot be pending for the District Attorney's Officer to represent you. That means that no divorce or custody is actually filed. This does not mean you cannot apply for a protective order at all. You can ask your attorney on the divorce/custody case to file a protective order for you.

A protective order is available for people who have experienced dating or family violence. If violated, it can lead to criminal penalties (the Respondent/violator can be arrested). A restraining order can be ordered by a court for many different types of situations and has civil penalties if violated.

• Unless there has been family violence, you would not qualify for a protective order.
• You can make a police report about the harassment and your ex-partner can be investigated for harassing you.

No. A protective order is a lawsuit that is filed in family court and must be reviewed and issued by a judge. However, we will give you safety information and work on other options to increase you and your family's safety.

If approved, a judge issues a temporary (ex-parte) protective order when a request for a final protective order is filed in court. It goes into effect when the Respondent is served and expires after a certain amount of time. Police can arrest after the Respondent has been served with a temporary protective order.

• If you need help right away, call 911.
• If you want to report a crime that has already occurred, or if you want to follow-up on filing charges, you must contact the law enforcement agency that responds to where the incident occurred. For instance, if you were assaulted in the City of Texarkana, contact the Texarkana Texas Police Department.
• Contact the appropriate law enforcement agency case investigation:
• Texarkana Texas Police Department 903-798-3116
• Bowie County Sheriff's Office 903-798-3149
• Nash Police Department 903-838-0822
• Hooks Police Department 903-547-2222
• City of Wake Village Police Department 903-838-0515
• New Boston Police Department 903-628-3771
• Maud Police Headquarters 903-585-5004
• The City of De Kalb Police Department 903-667-2095
• Other - There are many other police agencies in Bowie County. Call the District Attorney's Office if you need help determining which agency responds to your incident - 903-735-4800.

• We can use a special language line to communicate in almost any language.
• We have advocates who speak English and Spanish.
• We have written information available in several other languages.

• The office is ADA accessible.
• For deaf or hearing impaired who sign, we use a video interpretation service (much like skype).
• For other accommodations, contact us for information

• Decide and plan where you will go if you leave home.
• Practice how to get out of your home safely by identifying which escape route is best.
• Have a packed bag ready and keep it at the home of a close relative or friend.
• Identify one or more neighbors who you can ask to call the police if they hear a disturbance coming from your home.
• Devise a code word or signal to use with your children, family, friends, and neighbors when you need the police.
• If you believe an argument/incident is going to occur, leave if possible. If not, try to move to a room where you have access to an exit and/or a phone. Stay away from any room without an outside door or window or a room with items that could be used as weapons such as a kitchen or garage.
• Use your own instincts and judgment. If the situation is very dangerous, do whatever is necessary to be safe. This may mean giving the abuser what he/she wants to calm him/her down.
• Keep your cell phone with you at all times.
• If necessary, call "911" for help.