6/29/2026 7:34 PM
Summary
As part of Senate Bill 48 passed during the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature (2023), the Office of Court Administration (OCA) was charged with evaluating the efficacy of protective orders in Texas.
As part of Senate Bill 48 passed during the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature (2023), the Office of Court Administration (OCA) was charged with evaluating the efficacy of protective orders in Texas. Given the complex nature of resolving interpersonal violence and the social issues that drive the need for protective orders, the answer to that charge of how well protective orders protect depends entirely on where an individual stands in a complex and interrelated civil and, potentially, criminal process.
This report outlines the efforts by Texas courts, clerks, prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, legal aid providers, and advocacy groups to promote the effective and consistent enforcement of protective orders in Texas and outlines challenges to the current system and provide recommendations for further policy initiatives and research opportunities.
Protective Order Efficacy Study