The Texas Sentencing Range Lookup returns the statutory punishment range for any Texas criminal offense classification under Tex. Penal Code §§ 12.21-12.33. Select the offense class (Class C/B/A misdemeanor, state-jail through capital felony) and the tool returns the minimum sentence, maximum sentence, fine range, and key enhancement multipliers under §§ 12.42 and 12.43.
The eight Texas punishment classifications
Texas criminal offenses are classified into eight punishment categories. The classification (not the charge name) determines the sentencing range:
- Class C misdemeanor (Tex. Penal Code § 12.23) — fine only, up to $500. No jail. No probation. Adjudicated in municipal or justice court.
- Class B misdemeanor (§ 12.22) — up to 180 days county jail and $2,000 fine. Probationable. Adjudicated in county court at law.
- Class A misdemeanor (§ 12.21) — up to 1 year county jail and $4,000 fine. Probationable. Adjudicated in county court at law.
- State-jail felony (§ 12.35) — 180 days to 2 years state-jail facility and up to $10,000 fine. Probationable.
- Third-degree felony (§ 12.34) — 2 to 10 years TDCJ and up to $10,000 fine. Probationable in most cases.
- Second-degree felony (§ 12.33) — 2 to 20 years TDCJ and up to $10,000 fine. Probationable in most cases.
- First-degree felony (§ 12.32) — 5 to 99 years (or life) TDCJ and up to $10,000 fine. Probation availability restricted.
- Capital felony (§ 12.31) — life without parole or death. No probation.
How enhancements modify the range
Two primary statutes can enhance the punishment range above the base classification:
- Tex. Penal Code § 12.42 (Habitual / Repeat Offender) — prior felony convictions enhance the next felony one class higher (third-degree becomes second; second becomes first; first becomes 25-years-to-life range). Two prior felonies elevate any felony to 25-years-to-life.
- Tex. Penal Code § 12.43 (Habitual Misdemeanor) — prior misdemeanor convictions enhance the next misdemeanor one class higher and may bump certain repeat-Class-A convictions to state-jail felony status.
Beyond the base statutes, specific offense chapters contain their own enhancements: drug-free-zone enhancements under Tex. Health & Safety Code § 481.134, deadly-weapon findings under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.054, family-violence findings under art. 42.013, and federal Lautenberg-Amendment firearms consequences under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9).
Probation eligibility within the range
Most Texas misdemeanors and lower felonies are eligible for community supervision (probation). Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ch. 42A governs probation. Two forms: regular probation (suspended sentence; conviction on record) and deferred adjudication (no conviction if successfully completed; eligible for non-disclosure under Tex. Gov’t Code ch. 411). Some offenses are statutorily ineligible for deferred adjudication — notably, DWI offenses after September 1, 2019.
What the tool cannot predict
The tool returns the statutory range — not the predicted sentence. Actual sentencing depends on the prosecutor’s offer, the trial court’s discretion, the defendant’s allocution, the victim-impact testimony, the presentence investigation report, and the trial-court judge’s sentencing tendencies. Two defendants with identical statutory exposure can receive materially different sentences based on these factors.
For case-specific sentencing analysis, contact us for a free consultation. (972) 370-5060.
Related resources
- Texas Punishment Range Master Guide — full compendium with 10 sub-pages per classification
- Texas Felony Classifications — reference page
- Texas Misdemeanor Classifications — reference page
- Practice Areas — charge-specific defense guides
Need case-specific sentencing analysis?
The tool returns the statutory range. Predicted sentence requires attorney evaluation.
Call (972) 370-5060