As the Protective Court Mobile Advocate for HCDVCC, I provide support to the 280th Court. This Court is a specific civil district court in Harris County that oversees protective orders. It is located within the Harris County Juvenile Justice Center, 1200 Congress, in downtown Houston on the 1st floor. The Honorable Damiane Dianne Curvey is the presiding judge.
Protective orders are civil legal lawsuits that restrict proximity to a home, work, school and prohibit certain behaviors like abuse, harassment and/or stalking of a survivor. If the order is violated, the person can be arrested.
To get a protective order, a survivor/applicant must have experienced family violence. Family violence can be classified as physical assault, sexual assault, threats (with the intent to cause harm), harassment, and/or stalking.
These orders are often seen as valuable tools in helping to establish boundaries and safety when ending an abusive relationship, however, applying for one and going to court can be a very stressful process.
Thankfully, there are several wonderful agencies that can help someone get a protective order free of charge. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office’s Domestic Violence Division Protective Orders – Harris County District Attorney – Office of the District Attorney as well as Aid to Victims of Abuse avda.org are two local agencies who survivors can contact to apply for an order.
Once a protective order is filed, court is a necessary step for the order to be granted and finalized. To counter the stress an applicant/survivor might feel while in court, I work with survivors/applicants by providing:
- Emotional support prior, during and/or after testimony. Getting to court, waiting for your case to be heard and/or having to testify can be hard. My job is to make sure survivors/applicants feel supported during this difficult time.
- Detailed safety planning that is tailored to the needs of that individual applicant. This planning can include an analysis of areas of vulnerabilities in the home, at work, with children or in the community, education about additional protective tools that may enhance safety like SMART 911, VINE or security cameras, and a discussion of plans of action if someone violates the protective order. My biggest goal with a survivor/applicant is to discuss ways she/he/they can effectively use their protective order to help them be safer as they take their steps to a healthier existence.
- Providing applicants education of the protective order process and court proceedings and what to expect while they are waiting in court. This also includes helping survivors/applicants who are representing themselves in court by ensuring they have the appropriate copies and paperwork, or if they have an attorney, educating the survivor and attorney on possible safety apps for correspondence if children are involved.
- Providing applicants with community resources such as Crime Victims Compensation, Address Confidentiality Program, AVDA for divorce and custody issues, as well as information on other domestic violence agencies and resources within their area that can provide additional emotional support and advocacy.
Taking the steps to getting a protective order can be hard if you are not familiar with the legal process, however, know there are agencies and people who are available along the way to help in providing education, guidance and support. It is always important to remember you are not alone.
For more information about the 280th Court and protective orders, please visit the Court’s website at Justex.
Fanesha Washington
HCDVCC’s Protective Order Court Adovcate
