The Texas Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility law gives police the right to arrest you if they believe you possessed (as an inmate), or provided to an inmate, a number of different restricted items, including drugs, alcohol, weapons, cell phones, money and cigarettes.
FAQs about the
Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility law in Texas
- What is the current Texas law about Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility?
- What changes did the legislature make to this law in 2023?
- How can I be charged with a Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility offense in Texas?
- What is the statute of limitation for Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility in Texas?
- What is the penalty for a Texas Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility offense?
- Can you get probation for Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility in Texas?
- What level of crime is Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility in Texas?
The Texas legislature codified this criminal offense in Texas Penal Code Section 38.11. The law was updated in 2023 to add provisions that make it illegal under this law to possesses a cell phone or alcohol in a civil commitment facility or corrections facility.
The Penal Code classifies the Texas Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility law under Title 8 “Offenses Against Public Administration,” Chapter 38 “Obstructing Governmental Operation.” Learn more about the Texas offense of Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility below.
What is the current Texas law about Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility?
Texas law currently defines the offense of Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility in Penal Code Section §38.11 as follows:[1]
(a) A person commits an offense if the person provides, or possesses with the intent to provide:
(1) an alcoholic beverage, controlled substance, or dangerous drug to a person in the custody of a correctional facility or residing in a civil commitment facility, except on the prescription of a practitioner;
(2) a deadly weapon to a person in the custody of a correctional facility or residing in a civil commitment facility;
(3) a cellular telephone or other wireless communications device or a component of one of those devices to a person in the custody of a correctional facility;
(4) money to a person confined in a correctional facility; or
(5) a cigarette or tobacco product to a person confined in a correctional facility, except that if the facility is a local jail regulated by the Commission on Jail Standards, the person commits an offense only if providing the cigarette or tobacco product violates a rule or regulation adopted by the sheriff or jail administrator that:
(A) prohibits the possession of a cigarette or tobacco product by a person confined in the jail; or
(B) places restrictions on:
(i) the possession of a cigarette or tobacco product by a person confined in the jail; or
(ii) the manner in which a cigarette or tobacco product may be provided to a person confined in the jail.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person takes an alcoholic beverage, controlled substance, or dangerous drug into a correctional facility or civil commitment facility.
(c) A person commits an offense if the person takes a controlled substance or dangerous drug on property owned, used, or controlled by a correctional facility or civil commitment facility.
(d) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) possesses an alcoholic beverage, controlled substance, or dangerous drug while in a correctional facility or civil commitment facility or on property owned, used, or controlled by a correctional facility or civil commitment facility; or
(2) possesses a deadly weapon while in a correctional facility or civil commitment facility.
Subsections (e), (f), (g) and (h) deal with affirmative defenses, penalties and definitions. The offense framework continues in subsection (j):
(j) A person commits an offense if the person, while confined in a correctional facility, possesses a cellular telephone or other wireless communications device or a component of one of those devices.
(j-1) A person commits an offense if the person, while residing in a civil commitment facility, possesses a cellular telephone or other wireless communications device or a component of one of those devices unless the device or component is authorized by the Texas Civil Commitment Office.
(k) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to provide to or make a cellular telephone or other wireless communications device or a component of one of those devices available for use by a person in the custody of a correctional facility or residing in a civil commitment facility, the person:
(1) acquires a cellular telephone or other wireless communications device or a component of one of those devices to be delivered to the person in custody or residing in the facility;
(2) provides a cellular telephone or other wireless communications device or a component of one of those devices to another person for delivery to the person in custody or residing in the facility; or
(3) makes a payment to a communication common carrier, as defined by Article 18A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure, or to any communication service that provides to its users the ability to send or receive wire or electronic communications.
What changes did the legislature make to this law in 2023?
In 2023, the Texas legislature added a subsection (j-1) that made it illegal for people in a civil commitment facility to possesses a cell phone or other wireless communications device. The legislature also made it illegal to possess alcohol in a civil commitment facility or corrections facility.[2]
How can I be charged with a Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility offense in Texas?
You can be charged with Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility in Texas if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of 38.11 as described in the section above have been met.
What is the statute of limitation for Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility in Texas?
Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility offenses have a three-year limitations period.[3]
What is the penalty for a Texas Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility offense?
A conviction for Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facilityis punished as a felony of the third degree,[4] with a maximum possible fine under Texas state law of up to $10,000 and jail time of up to ten years.
Can you get probation for Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility in Texas?
The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure allows both judges and juries to grant probation for Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility, and judges are also allowed to accept deferred adjudication plea deals.[5]
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.[6]
What level of crime is Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility in Texas?
The Penal Code classifies Prohibited Substances and Items in Correctional Facility as a third degree felony.
Learn more about the penalty range for this offense in the section above.
Legal References:
^1. Texas Penal Code §38.11. This law is current as of 2024.^2. SB 1179, 88th Texas Legislature (RS), Section 5^3. See Code of Criminal Procedure 12.01(9)^4. Texas Penal Code §38.11(h)^5. See Chapter 42, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Art. 42A.054, Art. 42A.056, Art. 42A.102^6. Art. 42A.054(b), Texas Code of Criminal Procedure
