What Are the Most Common Violent Crimes Committed in Texas?

 Posted on November 05, 2020 in Criminal Defense

While all crimes are considered serious in the state of Texas, those that involve inflicting violence against another person are held to an even higher standard. Texas classifies crimes into two categories—property crimes and violent crimes—with property crimes being significantly more common. The Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) releases a yearly crime report, and urban areas throughout the state saw a rise in violent crime rates in 2019, including Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Following is a look at the most common violent crimes committed by Texans this past year.

Aggravated Assault

Assault is committed when a person knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly causes or threatens to cause physical injury to another person. The charge escalates to aggravated assault when the perpetrator exhibits or uses a deadly weapon during the assault. In 2019 alone, nearly 75,600 aggravated assault offenses were committed in Texas. This offense is charged as a second-degree felony but may increase to a first-degree felony depending on the details of the crime. In Texas, a second-degree felony holds a punishment of 2-20 years in prison.

Robbery

Theft and robbery are often grouped together as a similar crime. Robbery, however, is more serious and involves violence being inflicted from one party to another. A person commits a robbery if they knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly causes or threatens to cause physical injury to another person while in the course of committing theft. The TxDPS reports approximately 28,800 robberies occurred in 2019. This offense is also considered a second-degree felony, resulting in 2-20 years behind bars.

Rape

Sexual assault, also known as rape, involves forced sexual actions without the other party’s consent. Over 14,600 rapes were committed in 2019; however, this number only includes those that were reported, which leaves out a vast number of rapes that occurred in the state but went unreported. This crime’s penalties are dependent on a number of factors, including the age of the victim. Depending on the details of the crime, the perpetrator can spend anywhere from 180 days to 99 years in prison and face costly fines for their actions.

Murder

The criminal offense of murder has the lowest recorded volume among these violent crimes. In 2019, approximately 1,400 murders were recorded across Texas. A person commits this offense if they intentionally or knowingly cause the death of another person; they intend to cause a physical injury that results in the person’s death; or they cause the death of another person while committing a felony. Murder is considered a first-degree felony, leading to 5-99 years of imprisonment in addition to up to $10,000 in fines.

Contact a Wilson County Criminal Defense Attorney

Violent crimes carry the most severe penalties in Texas, and anyone facing such accusations should seek out immediate legal representation. At BRCK Criminal Defense Attorneys, we strongly believe that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, even those facing accusations of violent crimes. Our firm has over 40 years of combined experience and a proven track record of winning. If you are facing criminal charges of any degree, call our accomplished Floresville criminal defense lawyers today at 830-769-1010 to schedule your free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.dps.texas.gov/administration/crime_records/pages/crimestatistics.htm 

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.22.htm

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.12.htm

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.29.htm 

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.21.htm