Is Domestic Violence a Misdemeanor or a Felony in Texas?

Can Domestic Violence Be Charged as Either? If So, What is the Change?

Domestic violence or abuse can often look to arise out of nowhere. You’re possessing a discussion on a tough subject matter and tempers and voices the two get out of handle. Normally, there’s no intention to bodily assault a spouse—you just materialize to be in proximity to every single other and speak to is made. Usually, when law enforcement officers are named to answer to allegations of domestic violence, a person will be taken into custody and billed. What type of crime is domestic violence in Texas? Can it be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony? If it can be possibly, what is the big difference?

What Is Viewed as to Be “Domestic Violence” in Texas?

In accordance to statute in Texas, “family violence” is any act perpetrated by 1 member of a household or family towards another human being in the same domestic or spouse and children, if it can be tested that the intent was to deliver about bodily injury, physical damage/assault or sexual assault. It can also be regarded as spouse and children violence to threaten another person in the exact same domestic or household with imminent serious hurt, bodily harm or sexual violence. Self-defense can be elevated as a legitimate justification for family members/domestic violence.

The Felony Classification of Domestic Violence in Texas

Underneath Texas regulation, an act of household or domestic violence may perhaps be charged as possibly a misdemeanor or a felony. No matter whether or not you will be charged with a misdemeanor or felony depends mainly on two factors:

• The nature of the domestic violence
• Irrespective of whether or not you have any prior convictions for domestic violence

The point out of Texas identifies 3 diverse kinds of domestic violence:

• Domestic violence or assault
• Aggravated domestic violence or assault
• Continual domestic violence

It’s essential to comprehend that, technically, a particular person who engages in family or domestic violence in Texas will encounter charges underneath the state’s assault statutes—there is no certain statute governing domestic violence.

If you are billed with domestic violence or assault, and it is your initially demand/conviction, you will customarily be charged with a misdemeanor. It might, having said that, be a Course A misdemeanor, with possible penalties of up to 1 year of incarceration and $4,000 in fines. For subsequent convictions on an assault cost, you may perhaps be charged with a 3rd-degree felony, which carries a sentence of up to 10 a long time in jail, as properly as fines of up to $10,000.

Underneath particular conditions, a simple assault may be categorized as aggravated assault:

• Wherever the assault sales opportunities to really serious bodily hurt, such as damaged bones or scarring/disfigurement
• In which the assault included the use or danger to use a fatal weapon, which include a firearm, a knife, or a club or equivalent apply

In Texas, aggravated assault is a 2nd-degree felony, with a possible penalty of up to 20 many years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

Steady Violence towards the Loved ones in Texas

The Condition of Texas does have a precise statute the provides sanctions for continual functions of violence from household users. The statute applies in predicaments in which there have been at minimum two assault fees from a member of your household or family members around a 12-month period. Continual violence in opposition to the household is ordinarily billed as a 3rd-diploma felony in Texas.

Call the Confirmed Criminal Protection Attorneys at Bailey & Galyen

At the law place of work of Bailey & Galyen, we present a free initial session to everyone who has been arrested or is below investigation for domestic or loved ones violence. To discuss with a knowledgeable law firm, Make contact with us by e-mail or 844-402-2992 contact our places of work at one particular of the handy areas listed down below. We will consider your simply call 24 hrs a working day, 7 times a 7 days.