Your RIGHTS as a survivor of Family Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, Harassment, or Terroristic Threat
It’s a criminal offense for any person, including a member of the family or former member of the family to cause physical injury or harm to a victim or to engage in conduct constituting stalking, harassment, or terroristic threat.
If you feel unsafe, getting support can help you understand your options and feel safer. While ending an abusive relationship or seeking help, threats, or violence can increase. Some warning signs of increased risk may include jealousy, controlling finances or your movements, isolating you from friends or family, verbal abuse, threats to harm or kill you, and physical abuse including strangulation.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911 right away.
You have Rights and Options
If you, your child or any other household member has been injured, or if you feel you are going to be in danger when the officer leaves or later, you have the right to ask your local law enforcement agency to file a criminal complaint against the person committing family violence. You can also apply for a court order to protect you.
To learn more about how reports and complaints are filed, visit the Texas Family Violence Program resources page at hhs.texas.gov/fvp-resources.
It’s your right to choose which of these options are best for you.
Protective Orders
A protective order is a legal document requiring someone stay away from you and gives you legal protection. In some cases, it can even remove someone from your shared home. This option is available if you have experienced family violence, dating violence, sexual assault, abuse, stalking, harassment, or human trafficking.
In Texas there are three different types of protective orders:
To learn more about protective orders, visit the Texas Family Violence Program resources page at hhs.texas.gov/fvp-resources.
Your local county or district attorney or Texas Advocacy Project can often help you get a protective order for free. To learn more, visit texaslawhelp.org/toolkit/i-need-protective-order.
Lease Termination
You may be able to legally end your lease without penalty. To do so, you will need to have at least one of the following documents.
To learn more, visit texaslawhelp.org/article/early-lease-termination-for-victims-of-family-violence. For more information and certification forms, visit tcfv.org/find-help/survivor-resources and click on the Lease Termination tab under Moving Forward.
If you need help with filing a report or criminal complaint, protective orders, lease termination, or anything else, call the Texas Advocacy Project for free and confidential assistance at 800-374-HOPE (4673) or visit texasadvocacyproject.org.
The Texas Department of Public Safety also has victim services counselors who are available to help you navigate the criminal justice process and access your rights as a crime victim. To locate the Victim Services Counselor in your area, go to https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/victim-employment-support-services-vess/regional-victim-services-counselors or call 512-424-2211
Denton County Friends of the Family provide compassionate, comprehensive services to those impacted by rape, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, while partnering with our community to promote safety, hope, healing, justice, and prevention. 1-800-572-4031.