The Texas Aiding Suicide law gives police the right to arrest you if they believe you helped someone or attempted to help someone commit or attempt to commit suicide.
FAQs about the
Aiding Suicide law in Texas
- What is the current Texas law about Aiding Suicide?
- How can I be charged with an Aiding Suicide offense in Texas?
- What is the statute of limitation for Aiding Suicide in Texas?
- What is the penalty for a Texas Aiding Suicide offense?
- Can you get probation for Aiding Suicide in Texas?
- What level of crime is Aiding Suicide in Texas?
The Texas legislature codified this criminal offense in Texas Penal Code Section 22.08. The law was not updated in 2023. In fact, this law has not been amended since 1993.
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The Penal Code classifies the Texas Aiding Suicide law under Title 5 “Offenses Against The Person,” Chapter 22 “Assaultive Offenses.” Learn more about the Texas offense of Aiding Suicide below.
What is the current Texas law about Aiding Suicide?
Texas law currently defines the offense of Aiding Suicide in Penal Code Section §22.08 as follows:[1]
(a) A person commits an offense if, with intent to promote or assist the commission of suicide by another, he aids or attempts to aid the other to commit or attempt to commit suicide.
How can I be charged with an Aiding Suicide offense in Texas?
You can be charged with Aiding Suicide in Texas if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of 22.08(a) as described in the section above have been met.
In addition to Aiding Suicide,here are many other laws in Texas regarding suicide.[2]
What is the statute of limitation for Aiding Suicide in Texas?
Misdemeanor level Aiding Suicide charges have a two-year limitations period.[3] Felony level offenses have a three-year limitations period.[4]
What is the penalty for a Texas Aiding Suicide offense?
A conviction for Aiding Suicide in Texas is punished as a Class C misdemeanor,[5] with a maximum possible fine under Texas state law of up to $500, unless you actually caused a suicide or serious bodily injury (from an attempted suicide), in which case a conviction for Aiding Suicide in Texas is punished as a State Jail Felony,[6] with a maximum possible fine under Texas state law of up to $10,000 and jail time of up to two years.
Can you get probation for Aiding Suicide in Texas?
The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure allows both judges and juries to grant probation for Aiding Suicide, and judges are also allowed to accept deferred adjudication plea deals.[7]
Note, however, that judges may not grant community supervision after a conviction if (1) the defendant used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of the felony or immediate flight thereafter and (2) the defendant used or exhibited the deadly weapon himself or was a party to the offense and knew that a deadly weapon would be used or exhibited.[8]
What level of crime is Aiding Suicide in Texas?
The Penal Code classifies the punishment for Aiding Suicide as a Class C misdemeanor, unless the actor’s conduct causes suicide or attempted suicide that results in serious bodily injury, in which event the offense is a state jail felony.
Learn more about the penalty range for this offense in the section above.
Legal References:
^1. Texas Penal Code §22.08. This law is current as of 2024.^2. Texas Suicide Prevention 2013 Whitepaper^3. Code of Criminal Procedure 12.02(a)^4. See Code of Criminal Procedure 12.01(9)^5. Texas Penal Code §22.08(b)^6. Texas Penal Code §22.08(b)^7. See Chapter 42, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Art. 42A.054, Art. 42A.056, Art. 42A.102^8. Art. 42A.054(b), Texas Code of Criminal Procedure
