State Felony Crimes

Texas State Felony crimes are serious offenses in violation of the state penal code. State felonies are classified according to their relative seriousness and carry maximum penalties of up to death or life in prison and/or fines of up to $10,000. State felonies are divided into five categories- capital felonies, first, second or third degree felonies and state jail felonies- each holding the following punishments in descending order of severity:

Capital Felony

• Execution or life in state prison

First Degree Felony

• Prison term of life or 5-99 years; and/or

• Fine not to exceed $10,000

Second Degree Felony

• Prison term of 2-20 years; and/or

• Fine not to exceed $10,000

Third Degree Felony

• Prison term 2-10 years; and/or

• Fine not to exceed $10,000

State Jail Felony

• State jail term of 180 days to 2 years; and/or

• Fine not to exceed $10,000

There is great discretion in punishment within each category of felony crimes- largely dependant upon the details and circumstances surrounding the offense, as well as a defendant’s prior felony convictions. It is because of this broad discretion that it is imperative anyone facing felony criminal charges seek experienced and proficient legal counsel immediately to craft a well tailored and aggressive defense.

A state felony charge is serious and the ramifications of a felony conviction will follow you for the rest of your life, resulting in the loss of your vote, jury service, as well as restrictions on certain professional licenses, reduced housing options, financial expense of fines, loss of freedom, not to mention difficulty in obtaining future employment.

Our law firm has experience on both the prosecutorial and defendant side of cases, making us well positioned to expertly advise you on all defenses available to you, helping you achieve the most favorable outcome.

A list of the most common state felony crimes is listed in our frequently asked questions section.