Tex. Codes » Penal Code · TITLE 3. PUNISHMENTS · CHAPTER 12. PUNISHMENTS
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Tex. Penal Code § 12.04 (2026)

Classification Of Felonies

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Sec. 12.04. CLASSIFICATION OF FELONIES. (a) Felonies are classified according to the relative seriousness of the offense into five categories:

(1) capital felonies;

(2) felonies of the first degree;

(3) felonies of the second degree;

(4) felonies of the third degree; and

(5) state jail felonies.

(b) An offense designated a felony in this code without specification as to category is a state jail felony.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 1125, ch. 426, art. 2, Sec. 3, eff. Jan. 1, 1974; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.

SUBCHAPTER B. ORDINARY MISDEMEANOR PUNISHMENTS


Notes of Decisions
Cited in 32 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1995–2025 · leading case: Campbell v. State, 49 S.W.3d 874 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).
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Campbell v. State, 49 S.W.3d 874 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). · cites it 6× “See Tex. Pen.Code § 12.04 ("Felonies are classified according to the relative seriousness of the offense.”
Tapps v. State Tex., 257 S.W.3d 438 (Tex. App. 2008). · cites it 3× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 12.04 (West 2003); see also id.”
Garza v. State, 213 S.W.3d 338 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). “Tex Pen.Code § 12.04. 33 . Tex. Pen.Code § 12.”
State v. Webb, 12 S.W.3d 808 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “See TEX. PEN.CODE § 12.04 (classifying state jail felonies below all non-state jail felonies, in terms of "relative seriousness").”
Tapps v. State, 294 S.W.3d 175 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). “Tex. Penal Code § 12.04(a) (emphasis added).”
Rigoberto Pantoja v. State, 496 S.W.3d 186 (Tex. App. 2016). “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 12.04 (classification of felony offenses), 12.”
Ramirez v. State, 90 S.W.3d 884 (Tex. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 12.04 (Vernon 1994) (classifying felony offenses as capital felonies, felonies of the first degree, felonies of the second degree, felonies of the third degree, and state jail felonies).”
In Re J.J., 916 S.W.2d 532 (Tex. App. 1995). · cites it 2× “” Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 12.35(a) (Vernon 1994).”
Phuong Thai Than v. State, 918 S.W.2d 106 (Tex. App. 1996). · cites it 2× “Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 12.04(a), (b) (Vernon 1994).”
Adger v. State, 7 S.W.3d 899 (Tex. App. 1999). “” Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 12.04 (a)(5) (Vernon 1994).”
In Re Jj, 916 S.W.2d 532 (Tex. App. 1995). · cites it 2× “TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 12.35 (Vernon 1994).”
Ricky Tapps v. State (Tex. App. 2008). · cites it 3× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 12.04 (West 2003); see also id.”
Show all 32 citing cases →
— Tex. Penal Code § 12.04(a) — 16 cases
Campbell v. State, 49 S.W.3d 874 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001). “See Tex. Pen.Code § 12.04 ("Felonies are classified according to the relative seriousness of the offense.”
Tapps v. State, 294 S.W.3d 175 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). “Tex. Penal Code § 12.04(a) (emphasis added).”
In Re J.J., 916 S.W.2d 532 (Tex. App. 1995). “” Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 12.35(a) (Vernon 1994).”
Phuong Thai Than v. State, 918 S.W.2d 106 (Tex. App. 1996). “Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 12.04(a), (b) (Vernon 1994).”
Schunior, Victor Manuel Jr. (Tex. App. 2015).
— Tex. Penal Code § 12.04(a)(1) — 1 case
Petetan, US Carnell Jr. A/K/A Carnell Petetan, Jr. (Tex. App. 2015).
— Tex. Penal Code § 12.04(a)(5) — 1 case
Phuong Thai Than v. State, 918 S.W.2d 106 (Tex. App. 1996). “Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 12.04(a), (b) (Vernon 1994).”
— Tex. Penal Code § 12.04(b) — 1 case
Ramirez v. State, 90 S.W.3d 884 (Tex. App. 2002). “See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 12.04 (Vernon 1994) (classifying felony offenses as capital felonies, felonies of the first degree, felonies of the second degree, felonies of the third degree, and state jail felonies).”
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