The Manslaughter crime in the state of Texas gives police the right to arrest you if they believe you caused someone’s death by doing something reckless. Manslaughter is one of several Texas crimes that you might be charged with if you are involved in deadly incident.

You might also be charged with Intoxication Manslaughter, Criminally Negligent Homicide, Murder or Capital Murder. Except for Intoxication Manslaughter, these are all considered criminal homicide charges.

Learn more detailed information about the Manslaughter offense below.

What is the current Texas law about Manslaughter?

The current Texas law defines the offense of Manslaughter in Penal Code Section §19.04 as follows:^[1]

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

How can I be charged with Manslaughter?

You can be charged with Manslaughter if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of 19.04(a) as described in the section above have been met. Sometimes Manslaughter charges might be the result of a plea bargain where a person was initially charged with a higher grade of criminal homicide like Murder.

What is the punishment for Manslaughter?

A conviction for Manslaughter is punished as a Felony of the Second Degree,^[2] with a maximum possible fine under Texas state law of up to $10,000 and prison time of up to 20 years. Learn about the differences between grades of felonies and misdemeanors

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Legal References:

^1. Texas Penal Code §19.04^2. Texas Penal Code §19.04(b)