Houston Assault Attorney
Call us for a free consultation
(713) 429-7310
Latest News
  • Practice Areas
    • Assault Charges
      • Assault Family Member
      • Houston Domestic Violence Lawyer
      • Simple Assault
      • Aggravated Assault
      • Assault with a Deadly Weapon
      • Assault of a Public Servant
    • Theft Charges
      • Penalties for Theft
      • Stages of a Theft Case
      • Fight Fraud Charges
      • Workplace Theft Charges
      • Robbery and Burglary
    • Shoplifting
    • Drug Crimes
      • Possession of Marijuana Charges
      • Possession of a Controlled Substance
    • Domestic Violence and Restraining Orders
    • Probation Violations
    • Felony Offenses
  • Our Firm
    • Attorney
    • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Results
  • Contact

How Much Jail Time Will You Serve for an Assault Conviction in Harris County?

January 28, 2019

If you’ve been charged with assault in Harris County, you could be facing a jail sentence or thousands of dollars in fines. However, how much time you are sentenced to and how much time you actually serve for an assault conviction usually depends on a number of factors, such as the severity of the crime you’ve allegedly committed, prior convictions, and the effectiveness of your legal representation, to name a few.

On This Page

  • Jail Time for Misdemeanor Assault in Texas
  • Jail Time for Felony Assault Conviction in Harris County
  • Non-3G Assault Sentencing
  • 3G Assault Sentencing
  • Learn More about Assault Sentencing in Harris County

Texas law defines assault as:

  • Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury;
  • Threatening someone in a way that would cause them to fear for their safety; or
  • Having physical contact with another person in a way that would reasonably be considered offensive or provocative.

Jail Time for Misdemeanor Assault in Texas

In Texas, there are two types of assault: misdemeanor and felony assault. Individuals are charged with misdemeanor or “simple” assault if you threatened someone or you touched them in a way that they considered to be offensive or provocative, but the assault did not result in any physical harm or injury to the victim(s).

How Much Jail Time Will You Serve for an Assault Conviction in Harris County?

The potential jail time for misdemeanor assault in Harris County is:

  • Class C misdemeanor assault conviction — no jail time, just a fine of up to $500.
  • Class B misdemeanor assault conviction — up to 180 days in jail.
  • Class A misdemeanor assault conviction — up to one year in jail.

Jail Time for Felony Assault Conviction in Harris County

As you can guess, felony assault in Texas, especially aggravated assault, is a very serious crime that come with very serious punishments. Assault becomes a felony in Texas when the victim is seriously injured or a weapon is brandished or used.

The potential jail time for felony assault in Harris County is:

  • A third degree felony conviction — between 2 to 10 years
  • A second degree felony conviction — between 2 to 20 years
  • A first degree felony conviction — between 5 – 99 years or life

Persons convicted of assault in Texas rarely serve their entire sentence. How much time do you actually spend in jail if you’re convicted of assault before you become eligible for parole? That depends on if your offense is considered to be a “non-3g” offense or a “3g” offense. (The term “3g” refers to section 42.12(3)(g). Subsection (3)(g) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.)

Non-3G Assault Sentencing

The majority of convictions for assault in Texas are of the non-3G variety. This means an inmate usually becomes eligible for parole after a specific period of time after serving 25 percent of their sentence, or 15 years (whichever is less). Many factors can impact how much time an inmate actually serves before they receive parole, including the nature of the inmate’s offense, their criminal history, the length of time they’ve served, and how likely to commit a new offense in the future.

3G Assault Sentencing

In Texas, special guidelines are applied in sentencing for certain types of especially violent crimes, such as sexual assault, aggravated assault and aggravated sexual assault. These are classified as “3G” offenses, and the punishments are much harsher. Under 3G rules, a judge is not allowed to place a defendant on probation. A person sent to prison after being convicted of a “3G” offense must serve at least 50 percent of their sentence or 30 years (whichever is less) and won’t be eligible for parole until after serving two years behind bars.

Learn More about Assault Sentencing in Harris County

There are many factors that determine how much time a person convicted to assault in Harris County actually spends behind bars. This is why it is so important for a defendant in an assault case to select highly qualified and experienced legal counsel. The quality of your legal representation may mean the difference between acquittal and conviction or receiving probation as opposed to jail time.

Houston assault attorney Lisa Shapiro Strauss has an impressive track record when it comes to getting her clients the best results possible. As a former county prosecutor, Lisa understands both sides of a case and what it takes to craft a successful legal defense for her clients. If you have been convicted of assault or other felony or misdemeanor crime in Houston or Harris County, contact the law offices of Lisa Shapiro Strauss to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

In some cases, a skillful assault lawyer can obtain parole for their clients after a conviction for felony assault.

Filed Under: Assault

  • Follow Us

  • Archives

  • Categories

    • Assault
    • Assault Family Member
    • Domestic Violence
    • Drug Crimes
    • Evading/Resisting Arrest
    • General Criminal Defense Information
    • News
    • Robbery
    • Shoplifting
    • Theft Crimes
  • Free Consultation

    We can help. Contact Us Today
    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  • Read Our Client's Testimonials
    Lisa Shapiro Strauss: 5 out of 5 based on 65 user reviews.
    "Best criminal attorney in Houston. She got my husband’s case dismissed. She was always in contact with me. We are extremely thankful with her. Thanks Lisa." Supreme Title Services Ana Medina via
    Click Here To Read More Lisa Shapiro Strauss Reviews
    • Practice Areas
    • Firm
    • Testimonials
    • Results
    • Blog
    • Sitemap
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    Twitter Facebook
    Lisa Shapiro Strauss

    Disclaimer

    The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it entended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.

    Local: (713) 429-7310
    2023 Lisa Shapiro Strauss. All Rights Reserved
    Website Designed By Thunderhead Marketing
    • Practice Areas
      • Assault Charges
        • Assault Family Member
        • Houston Domestic Violence Lawyer
        • Simple Assault
        • Aggravated Assault
        • Assault with a Deadly Weapon
        • Assault of a Public Servant
      • Theft Charges
        • Penalties for Theft
        • Stages of a Theft Case
        • Fight Fraud Charges
        • Workplace Theft Charges
        • Robbery and Burglary
      • Shoplifting
      • Drug Crimes
        • Possession of Marijuana Charges
        • Possession of a Controlled Substance
      • Domestic Violence and Restraining Orders
      • Probation Violations
      • Felony Offenses
    • Our Firm
      • Attorney
      • Blog
    • Testimonials
    • Results
    • Contact
    Call us for a free consultation
    (713) 429-7310
    menu
    call us for a free consultation 713-429-7310
    • Practice Areas
      • Assault Charges
        • Assault Family Member
        • Houston Domestic Violence Lawyer
        • Simple Assault
        • Aggravated Assault
        • Assault with a Deadly Weapon
        • Assault of a Public Servant
      • Theft Charges
        • Penalties for Theft
        • Stages of a Theft Case
        • Fight Fraud Charges
        • Workplace Theft Charges
        • Robbery and Burglary
      • Shoplifting
      • Drug Crimes
        • Possession of Marijuana Charges
        • Possession of a Controlled Substance
      • Domestic Violence and Restraining Orders
      • Probation Violations
      • Felony Offenses
    • Our Firm
      • Attorney
      • Blog
    • Testimonials
    • Results
    • Contact