The Criminally Negligent Homicide crime in the state of Texas gives police the right to arrest you if they believe you cause someone’s death by doing something that was criminally negligent. Criminally Negligent Homicide is one of the Criminal Homicide charges in Texas. The others are Murder, Manslaughter and Capital Murder. Learn more detailed information about the Criminally Negligent Homicide offense below.

If the state’s attorneys believed that you caused the death of an individual while you were operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, you could also be charged with Intoxication Manslaughter.

Criminally Negligent Homicide is classified in the Texas Penal Code under Title 5 “Offenses Against The Person,” Chapter 19 “Criminal Homicide.”

What is the current Texas law about Criminally Negligent Homicide?

The current Texas law defines the offense of Criminally Negligent Homicide in Penal Code Section §19.05 as follows:^[1]

(a) A person commits an offense if he causes the death of an individual by criminal negligence.

How can I be charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide?

You can be charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of 19.05(a) as described in the section above have been met.

What is the punishment for Criminally Negligent Homicide?

A conviction for Criminally Negligent Homicide is punished as a State Jail Felony,^[2] with a maximum possible fine under Texas state law of up to $10,000 and jail time of up to two years. Learn about the differences between grades of felonies and misdemeanors

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Legal References:

^1. Texas Penal Code §19.05^2. Texas Penal Code §19.05(b)