A protective order is very different from a restraining order. A restraining order is a civil order which is not criminally enforceable and may be issued for anyone or almost any action as part of a civil lawsuit. There is no criminal offense in the Texas Penal Code for violating a restraining order. A protective order, on the other hand, is a civil order which is criminally enforceable. A violation of a protective order requires a police response and imposes criminal penalties, including jail time, on someone who disobeys the judge’s order. The criminal offenses for violating a protective order can be found in Chapter 25 in the Texas Penal Code.