The Violation of Protective Order Preventing an Offense Caused by Bias or Prejudice crime in the state of Texas makes it a criminal offense to violate a protective order regarding bias or prejudice in any of the particular ways described by the statute.

Violation of Protective Order Preventing an Offense Caused by Bias or Prejudice is classified in the Texas Penal Code under Title 6 “Offenses Against the Family,” Chapter 25 “Offenses Against the Family.”

Learn more detailed information about the Violation of Protective Order Preventing an Offense Caused by Bias or Prejudice offense below.

What is the current Texas law about Violation of Protective Order Preventing an Offense Caused by Bias or Prejudice?

The current Texas law defines the offense of Violation of Protective Order Preventing Offense Caused By Bias or Prejudice in Penal Code Section §25.071 as follows:^[1]

(a) A person commits an offense if, in violation of an order issued under Subchapter C, Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure, the person knowingly or intentionally:

(1) commits an offense under Title 5 or Section 28.02, 28.03, or 28.08 and commits the offense because of bias or prejudice as described by Article 42.014, Code of Criminal Procedure;

(2) communicates:

(A) directly with a protected individual in a threatening or harassing manner;

(B) a threat through any person to a protected individual; or

(C) in any manner with the protected individual, if the order prohibits any communication with a protected individual; or

(3) goes to or near the residence or place of employment or business of a protected individual.

How can I be charged with Violation of Protective Order Preventing an Offense Caused by Bias or Prejudice?

You can be charged with Violation of Protective Order Preventing an Offense Caused by Bias or Prejudice if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of 25.071(a) as described in the section above have been met.

What is the punishment for Violation of Protective Order Preventing an Offense Caused by Bias or Prejudice?

A conviction for Violation of Protective Order Preventing an Offense Caused by Bias or Prejudice is punished by default as a Class A misdemeanor, unless it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has previously been convicted for a violation of this law two or more times or has violated the protective order by committing an assault, in which event the offense is a third degree felony.^[2] Learn about the differences between grades of felonies and misdemeanors

---

Legal References:

^1. Texas Penal Code §25.071^2. Texas Penal Code §25.071(d)