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Freestone County Good Governance Council

Independent research. Informed citizens. Accountable government.

Help for Crime Victims in Freestone County

If you or someone you know has been hurt by a crime, you have rights under Texas law, and there is help, much of it free. This page brings together the main places to start. It is general information, not legal advice.

In an emergency, call 911. If you are in danger right now, call 911 first.

Start here in Freestone County

Victim Assistance Coordinator, Freestone County Attorney’s Office
110 S. Keechi, Fairfield, TX 75840
(903) 389-3977

Texas law requires every prosecutor’s office to designate a victim assistance coordinator (Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 56A.201). The coordinator can explain your rights, help you with a Victim Impact Statement, give you Crime Victims’ Compensation forms, and keep you informed about your case. Law enforcement agencies must also designate a crime victim liaison (Art. 56A.203). Ask the officer handling your report who that is.

Your rights as a crime victim

Texas law (Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 56A) gives victims of certain crimes rights that include:

The coordinator can give you a full written list of your rights.

Crime Victims’ Compensation (help with costs)

The Texas Attorney General’s Crime Victims’ Compensation Program can help victims and their families pay crime-related costs that other sources don’t cover, such as counseling, medical treatment, funeral costs and lost income.

Office of the Attorney General — Crime Victims’ Compensation
(800) 983-9933 toll-free, or (512) 936-1200, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
texasattorneygeneral.gov/crime-victims
Mail: P.O. Box 12548, Austin, TX 78711-2548

Know when an offender is released: Texas IVSS-Counties

On September 1, 2025, Texas replaced its VINE notification service with Texas IVSS-Counties. It is free. You can look up a person held in a county jail and sign up to be told when that person is released or transferred. As checked November 7, 2026, the state’s service lists the Freestone County Jail. It does not track court dates; ask the victim assistance coordinator or the court clerk about those.

Texas IVSS-Counties: (866) 268-8959, 24 hours a day, English or Spanish, or ivss-counties.tdcj.texas.gov

Protective orders

A protective order is a court order that can require someone who has committed family violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or trafficking to stay away from you and stop contacting you. There are three ways to ask for one:

  1. Through the County Attorney’s Office. Under Texas Family Code §81.007(a), the county attorney or the criminal district attorney is the prosecuting attorney responsible for filing protective-order applications, unless the district attorney assumes that responsibility by giving notice to the county attorney. In Freestone County, call the County Attorney’s Office at (903) 389-3977 and ask about a protective order.
  2. With your own lawyer.
  3. On your own, using the free state form kit (see below).

We always recommend asking the County Attorney’s Office or a lawyer for help first. If that help isn’t available, Texas law lets you file on your own.

Free legal help:

Filing for a protective order on your own

Since September 1, 2025, Texas requires everyone applying for a protective order to use the state’s standard application form, written by the Texas Office of Court Administration. The forms are free. You can fill them out on your computer or phone, or print them and fill them out by hand. Choose whichever way is easier for you:

Option 1: Answer questions online and let the site fill in the form
eFileTexas Self Help (free, run by the State of Texas). Choose “Application for Protective Order.” The site asks you questions, fills in the application from your answers, and lets you print it or file it with the court electronically. Electronic filing is optional, and you can always print the form and take it to the clerk instead.
E-filing needs an email address. If someone else can read your email, open a new account that only you can see.

Option 2: Download the form kit and fill it out yourself
Protective Order Kit (fillable PDF, TexasLawHelp.org): the application, affidavit or declaration, and step-by-step instructions. People without a lawyer should use this PDF version. You can type into it or print it and write in black or dark blue ink.
For sexual assault, stalking or trafficking: TexasLawHelp.org sexual assault protective order guide.
Every official form, including Spanish versions (use this if a TexasLawHelp link doesn’t open): Texas Courts standardized protective order forms.

We link to the official state websites instead of keeping our own copies, so you always get the newest version of each form.

  1. Fill out the forms: the Application, and, if you need protection right away, the Affidavit (signed before a notary) or the Declaration (no notary needed). The Affidavit keeps your address and date of birth confidential; the Declaration does not. The Application also has a section where you can ask the court to keep your home, work, school and child-care addresses private; read it carefully (see the official instructions), and ask an advocate or lawyer about using a safe mailing address.
  2. Ask for a temporary order on the Application if you need protection before the hearing. A judge can sign it the same day, usually without the other person present.
  3. File with the clerk. In Freestone County, call the District Clerk at (903) 389-2534 to confirm where to file. Bring at least two copies. There is no filing fee for the person asking for protection.
  4. Service is free. A law enforcement officer, not you, delivers the papers to the other person.
  5. Go to the hearing, usually about two weeks later. If you don’t attend, a temporary order may end. Bring any evidence and witnesses.
  6. If the order is granted, get a certified copy and give the clerk the TCIC data form so law enforcement can see the order. Keep a copy with you.

You can usually file in the county where you live, the county where the other person lives, or the county where the violence happened. Violating a protective order is a crime; report violations to the Sheriff’s Office or police right away.

Free guides from the Texas courts (PDF):

Sharing a cell phone plan with the person you need protection from? Ask the judge for an order separating your phone account, so you can keep your number without that person’s control.

If services aren’t working for you

You can get help without waiting on any one office:

Shelter, advocacy and counseling serving Freestone County

Family Abuse Center (family violence shelter and outreach; serves Freestone County)
24-hour hotline: (800) 283-8401
Office: (254) 772-8999
Rural advocates can meet with you in Freestone County for case management, legal advocacy and counseling.

Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children (sexual assault, child abuse and other crimes; serves Freestone County)
24-hour hotline: (254) 752-7233 or (888) 867-7233
Office: (254) 752-9330
Services include crisis counseling, sexual assault exams, forensic interviews for children and help with Crime Victims’ Compensation.

National, 24 hours

Records from the County Attorney’s Office

In response to a public information request, the County Attorney’s Office provided the materials it gives crime victims. Blank forms are marked SAMPLE; get a fresh copy to fill out from the coordinator.

A note on safety

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The Freestone County Good Governance Council is a nonpartisan citizens’ group. We are not a government agency or a victim services provider. If any number on this page is out of date, please tell us so we can fix it. Last checked: November 7, 2026.