Murder in Texas law constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Texas.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in the year 2020, the state had a murder rate slightly above the median for the entire country.[1]
The felony murder rule in Texas, codified in Texas Penal Code ยง 19.02(b)(3),[2] states that a person commits murder if he or she "commits or attempts to commit a felony, other than manslaughter, and in the course of and in furtherance of the commission or attempt, or in immediate flight from the commission or attempt, they commits or attempts to commit an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual."
The felony murder rule is sometimes confused with the law of parties,[3] which states that a person can be criminally responsible for the actions of another by aiding or abeting, or conspires with the principal.
| Offense | Mandatory sentencing[4] | |
|---|---|---|
| Negligent homicide | 6 months to 2 years in jail | |
| Manslaughter | 2 to 20 years in prison | |
| Murder |
| |
| Capital murder | For adults: Death or life-without-parole For juveniles in adult court: Life with the possibility of parole after 40 years For juveniles in juvenile court: Maximum of 40 years in prison |