Protective Orders in Houston, Texas are often called MOEPS or Magistrate's order of emergency protection.  A MOEP is signed when the victim in an Assault Family Member case request one or the district attorney or judge makes the request on their own.  There is almost never an opportunity for the person who is alleged to have committed the offense to challenge the MOEP before it is imposed.  This happens at the Joint Processing Center in downtown Houston, Texas within a few hours of being arrested.  

What is a protective order (MOEP)?

A magistrates order of emergency protection is a document that is signed by a magistrate or other judge imposing restrictions on someone who has been charged with a family violence offense. 

Most of the time this means an Assault Family Member misdemeanor or felony charge.  A protective order can last from 61-91 days depending on the type of charge and the discretion of the judge.  In Harris County judges also regularly sign no contact orders which prevent the person accused of a crime from speaking with the alleged victim in any manner whatsoever.  This gets imposed as a condition of the defendant's bond and a violation can result in the filing of a new criminal charge or revocation of the original bond.  When your bond is revoked it means you have to go back to jail until you make a new bond.  The new bond is typically a higher amount than the original bond.  Unlike a protective order which has a time limit, bond conditions last for the entirety of the criminal case. 

MOEPS are authorized by Article 17.292 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. 

When is a MOEP mandatory?

A MOEP "shall" be issued by the judge when a defendant is charged with assault family member and the offense is alleged to have involved (1)  serious bodily injury to the victim;  or (2)  the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon during the commission of an assault.  Serious bodily injury is the type of injury that would cause permanent physical disfigurement or protracted loss of the use of some body part or death.  A deadly weapon is a firearm or anything that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death.  All other cases are discretionary on the part of the Judge.  In Harris County they are granted frequently even for misdemeanor charges. 

What can a MOEP prevent you from doing?

A MOEP can restrict a person arrested for an offense from the following: 

1. Committing a new act of family violence on the person protected under the order; 
2. Committing Human Trafficking or Stalking
3. Communicating directly with a member of the family or household or to the person protected under the order in a threatening or harassing manner;
4. If good cause is shown, from communicating in any manner with a person protected under the order or a member of the family or household except through an attorney.
5. Going to or near the residence, place of employment, or business of a member of the family or household or of the person protected under the order. 
6. Possessing a Firearm unless you are a peace officer.  
7. Impose GPS monitoring.

The most severe restrictions here are the no contact provision and the requirement to leave your own home if you live with the person who is alleged to be the victim.  If you have had an emergency protective order imposed on you and you need help fighting it call now for a free consultation.  713-703-1718

Art. 17.292. MAGISTRATE'S ORDER FOR EMERGENCY PROTECTION.  

(a)  At a defendant's appearance before a magistrate after arrest for an offense involving family violence or an offense under Section 20A.02, 20A.03, 22.011, 22.012, 22.021, or 42.072, Penal Code, the magistrate may issue an order for emergency protection on the magistrate's own motion or on the request of: (1)  the victim of the offense;
(2)  the guardian of the victim;
(3)  a peace officer; or
(4)  the attorney representing the state.

(b)  At a defendant's appearance before a magistrate after arrest for an offense involving family violence, the magistrate shall issue an order for emergency protection if the arrest is for an offense that also involves:
(1)  serious bodily injury to the victim;  or
(2)  the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon during the commission of an assault.

(c)  The magistrate in the order for emergency protection may prohibit the arrested party from:
(1)  committing:
(A)  family violence or an assault on the person protected under the order; or
(B)  an act in furtherance of an offense under Section 20A.02 or 42.072, Penal Code;
(2)  communicating:
(A)  directly with a member of the family or household or with the person protected under the order in a threatening or harassing manner;
(B)  a threat through any person to a member of the family or household or to the person protected under the order; or
(C)  if the magistrate finds good cause, in any manner with a person protected under the order or a member of the family or household of a person protected under the order, except through the party's attorney or a person appointed by the court;
(3)  going to or near:
(A)  the residence, place of employment, or business of a member of the family or household or of the person protected under the order; or
(B)  the residence, child care facility, or school where a child protected under the order resides or attends; or
(4)  possessing a firearm, unless the person is a peace officer, as defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code, actively engaged in employment as a sworn, full-time paid employee of a state agency or political subdivision.

(c-1)  In addition to the conditions described by Subsection (c), the magistrate in the order for emergency protection may impose a condition described by Article 17.49(b) in the manner provided by that article, including ordering a defendant's participation in a global positioning monitoring system or allowing participation in the system by an alleged victim or other person protected under the order.

(d)  The victim of the offense need not be present when the order for emergency protection is issued.

(e)  In the order for emergency protection the magistrate shall specifically describe the prohibited locations and the minimum distances, if any, that the party must maintain, unless the magistrate determines for the safety of the person or persons protected by the order that specific descriptions of the locations should be omitted.

(f)  To the extent that a condition imposed by an order for emergency protection issued under this article conflicts with an existing court order granting possession of or access to a child, the condition imposed under this article prevails for the duration of the order for emergency protection.

(f-1)  To the extent that a condition imposed by an order issued under this article conflicts with a condition imposed by an order subsequently issued under Chapter 85, Subtitle B, Title 4, Family Code, or under Title 1 or Title 5, Family Code, the condition imposed by the order issued under the Family Code prevails.

(f-2)  To the extent that a condition imposed by an order issued under this article conflicts with a condition imposed by an order subsequently issued under Chapter 83, Subtitle B, Title 4, Family Code, the condition imposed by the order issued under this article prevails unless the court issuing the order under Chapter 83, Family Code:
(1)  is informed of the existence of the order issued under this article;  and
(2)  makes a finding in the order issued under Chapter 83, Family Code, that the court is superseding the order issued under this article.

(g)  An order for emergency protection issued under this article must contain the following statements printed in bold-face type or in capital letters: "A VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER BY COMMISSION OF AN ACT PROHIBITED BY THE ORDER MAY BE PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF AS MUCH AS $4,000 OR BY CONFINEMENT IN JAIL FOR AS LONG AS ONE YEAR OR BY BOTH.  AN ACT THAT RESULTS IN A SEPARATE OFFENSE MAY BE PROSECUTED AS A SEPARATE MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY OFFENSE, AS APPLICABLE, IN ADDITION TO A VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER.  IF THE ACT IS PROSECUTED AS A SEPARATE FELONY OFFENSE, IT IS PUNISHABLE BY CONFINEMENT IN PRISON FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS.  THE POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A PERSON, OTHER THAN A PEACE OFFICER, AS DEFINED BY SECTION 1.07, PENAL CODE, ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN EMPLOYMENT AS A SWORN, FULL-TIME PAID EMPLOYEE OF A STATE AGENCY OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, WHO IS SUBJECT TO THIS ORDER MAY BE PROSECUTED AS A SEPARATE OFFENSE PUNISHABLE BY CONFINEMENT OR IMPRISONMENT. "NO PERSON, INCLUDING A PERSON WHO IS PROTECTED BY THIS ORDER, MAY GIVE PERMISSION TO ANYONE TO IGNORE OR VIOLATE ANY PROVISION OF THIS ORDER.  DURING THE TIME IN WHICH THIS ORDER IS VALID, EVERY PROVISION OF THIS ORDER IS IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT UNLESS A COURT CHANGES THE ORDER."

(h)  As soon as possible but not later than the next business day after the date the magistrate issues an order for emergency protection under this article, the magistrate shall send a copy of the order to the chief of police in the municipality where the member of the family or household or individual protected by the order resides, if the person resides in a municipality, or to the sheriff of the county where the person resides, if the person does not reside in a municipality.  If the victim of the offense is not present when the order is issued, the magistrate issuing the order shall order an appropriate peace officer to make a good faith effort to notify, within 24 hours, the victim that the order has been issued by calling the victim's residence and place of employment.  The clerk of the court shall send a copy of the order to the victim at the victim's last known address as soon as possible but not later than the next business day after the date the order is issued.

(h-1)  A magistrate or clerk of the court may delay sending a copy of the order under Subsection (h) only if the magistrate or clerk lacks information necessary to ensure service and enforcement.

(i)  If an order for emergency protection issued under this article prohibits a person from going to or near a child care facility or school, the magistrate shall send a copy of the order to the child care facility or school.

(i-1)  The copy of the order and any related information may be sent under Subsection (h) or (i) electronically or in another manner that can be accessed by the recipient. (j)  An order for emergency protection issued under this article is effective on issuance, and the defendant shall be served a copy of the order by the magistrate or the magistrate's designee in person or electronically.  The magistrate shall make a separate record of the service in written or electronic format.  An order for emergency protection issued under Subsection (a) or (b)(1) of this article remains in effect up to the 61st day but not less than 31 days after the date of issuance.  An order for emergency protection issued under Subsection (b)(2) of this article remains in effect up to the 91st day but not less than 61 days after the date of issuance.  After notice to each affected party and a hearing, the issuing court may modify all or part of an order issued under this article if the court finds that:
(1)  the order as originally issued is unworkable;
(2)  the modification will not place the victim of the offense at greater risk than did the original order; and
(3)  the modification will not in any way endanger a person protected under the order.

(k)  To ensure that an officer responding to a call is aware of the existence and terms of an order for emergency protection issued under this article, not later than the third business day after the date of receipt of the copy of the order by the applicable law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the municipality or county in which the victim resides, the law enforcement agency shall enter the information required under Section 411.042(b)(6), Government Code, into the statewide law enforcement information system maintained by the Department of Public Safety.

(k-1)  A law enforcement agency may delay entering the information required under Subsection (k) only if the agency lacks information necessary to ensure service and enforcement. (l)  In the order for emergency protection, the magistrate shall suspend a license to carry a handgun issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, that is held by the defendant.

(m)  In this article:
(1)  "Family," "family violence," and "household" have the meanings assigned by Chapter 71, Family Code.
(2)  "Firearm" has the meaning assigned by Chapter 46, Penal Code.
(3)  "Business day" means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or state or national holiday.

(n)  On motion, notice, and hearing, or on agreement of the parties, an order for emergency protection issued under this article may be transferred to the court assuming jurisdiction over the criminal act giving rise to the issuance of the emergency order for protection.  On transfer, the criminal court may modify all or part of an order issued under this subsection in the same manner and under the same standards as the issuing court under Subsection (j). Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 658, Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 1995.  Subsecs. (a), (b) amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1, Sec. 4, eff. Jan. 28, 1997.  Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 610, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Subsec. (i) amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 514, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.  Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1412, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  Subsecs. (c), (g), (m) amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 23, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2001;  Subsecs. (f-1), (f-2), (n) added and Subsec. (j) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 424, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 361 (S.B. 1275), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 66 (S.B. 584), Sec. 1, eff. May 11, 2007. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1146 (H.B. 2730), Sec. 11.20, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1276 (H.B. 1506), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 255 (H.B. 570), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 108 (S.B. 112), Sec. 1, eff. May 23, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 243 (S.B. 737), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 243 (S.B. 737), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 437 (H.B. 910), Sec. 6, eff. January 1, 2016. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 955 (S.B. 194), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2019.