According to the Texas Association for the Protection of Children, 151 children died as a result of abuse and neglect in Texas in 2014. Children are among the most vulnerable members of society. If you’ve committed some action – intentional or accidental – that resulted in a child getting hurt, you could be charged with injury to a child.
And it’s a serious crime to be charged with. If convicted you face a long stay in prison and a criminal record that will follow you for the rest of your life. It would be a good idea to contact a competent violent crimes attorney to discuss your case.
Injury to a Child Defense Lawyer in Irving, Dallas, Carrolton, Richardson, TX
Injury to a child is considered a violent crime in the state of Texas. The Dallas courts have a very low tolerance for violent crimes. If you show up in court alone and try to represent yourself, you stand little chance of working out a favorable deal with the prosecution. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy can help.
Contact the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy today at (972) 233-5700 for a consultation about your alleged offense in Irving, Dallas, Carrolton, Richardson, and surrounding areas of Dallas County, Texas. Our firm will work to potentially get your criminal charges reduced or dismissed.
What Are the Different Degrees of Injury?
The Texas Statutes describe two different types of injury to a child: bodily injury and serious bodily injury.
Bodily injury is a lesser degree of injury. A child who receives bodily injury experiences physical pain, sickness, and/or physical impairment.
Serious bodily injury is a more serious degree of injury with penalties to match. Committing serious bodily injury results in death, the risk of death, permanent disfigurement, or long-term loss or impairment of organs or bodily functions.
How Is Injury to a Child Defined in Texas?
Aside from children, elderly and disabled people are also among the most vulnerable populations. One piece of legislation lays out penalties for injuring a member of any of these protected groups. Texas Penal Code Section 22.04 defines the crime of injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual. A child is defined as a person 14 years old or younger.
According to this statute, it is a crime to cause serious bodily injury; serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury; or bodily injury to any child. You can be charged under this law whether you acted intentionally or recklessly. The definition of this law is straightforward, but the penalties depend on a number of variables.
What is the Punishment for Injuring a Child in DFW?
Injury to a child is a serious felony offense in Texas. The penalties depend on your intent and the extent of injuries sustained.
It is a first-degree felony to intentionally or knowingly cause serious bodily injury to a child. Maximum penalties include between 5 and 99 years, or life, in prison. You could also be fined up to $10,000.
It is a third-degree felony to intentionally or knowingly cause bodily injury. Maximum penalties include up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
It is a second-degree felony to recklessly cause serious bodily injury to a child. Maximum penalties include up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
It is a state jail felony to recklessly cause bodily injury. Maximum penalties include up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
It is also a state jail felony to negligently cause serious bodily injury to a child. Maximum penalties include up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Additional Resources
Injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual | Texas Penal Code 22.04 – Visit this link to view an online version of the Texas Statutes. Here you can read the definition of injury to a child and compare the different levels of punishment prescribed by Texas law. You can also read about other laws governing assaultive offenses in this chapter.
Increasing the Penalty for Injury or Disfigurement to a Child | TexProtects – The main goal of TexProtects, The Texas Association for the Protection of Children, is to reduce and prevent child abuse. This document includes statistics about the number of children killed in Texas as a result of abuse or neglect. Visit this link to view a table summarizing the state’s child injury laws.
Find A Dallas County Defense Attorney for Injury to a Child Charges | Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy
If you’re accused of injury to a child, representing yourself is a bad idea. Violent crime is prosecuted more fiercely than nearly any other. Without proper representation, the prosecution will be unlikely to cut you any deals.
Contact the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy today at (972) 233-5700 for a consultation about your alleged offense in Irving, Dallas, Carrolton, Richardson, and surrounding areas of Dallas County, Texas. Our firm will work to potentially get your criminal charges reduced or dismissed.