MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER ATTORNEYS IN DALLAS, TEXAS
Often considered the most heinous of all crimes, murder, or intentionally taking the life of another person, carries severe consequences under Texas law, including incarceration for life and even the death penalty. As a result, you cannot risk your freedom by failing to enlist the services of an experienced Dallas criminal defense attorney.
Former Dallas County prosecutors Keith and Kevin Harris, who now focus on representing their neighbors throughout Dallas, are familiar with all phases of a murder case, from the police investigation to the jury verdict. Do not risk your freedom or, ultimately, your life. If you find yourself at the center of a homicide investigation, Harris & Harris Law Group can provide you with the aggressive defense that you need.
Murder Under Texas Law
Texas law defines murder as intentionally or knowingly causing the death of an individual. Murder can also be committed if someone intends to cause serious bodily injury and commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual.
Murder is a first degree felony in Texas. The punishment range for murder is not less than 5 years confinement and not more than 99 years, or life confinement in prison. A person convicted of murder in Texas is not eligible for probation.
FACING MURDER CHARGES?
Manslaughter and Criminally Negligent Homicide
When a killing is not intentional, but simply the result of reckless behavior, the criminal offense is manslaughter rather than murder. Manslaughter is a second degree felony, and carries a sentence of incarceration from 2 to 20 years.
When a death occurs due to criminally negligent behavior, Texas law provides for the crime of criminally negligent homicide. Criminally negligent homicide is a state jail felony, and can result in a sentence of incarceration from 180 days to 2 years in the state jail.
When Murder Becomes a Capital Crime
Murder becomes capital murder in the state of Texas when it involves a police officer or firefighter, a jail guard while incarcerated, more than one victim, or a child under the age of six. Capital murder is also committed if the murder occurs as an intentional act in the commission of a serious crime such as aggravated sexual assault, burglary, kidnapping, robbery, in the context of murder for hire, or while escaping from prison.
The punishment for capital murder is either the death penalty or confinement for life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Due to the harsh penalties described above, anyone facing murder or manslaughter charges must take them extremely seriously. Murder or manslaughter charges, even if unfounded, can result in the loss of your reputation, the loss of your employment, the loss of your freedom, or the loss of your life. If you or a loved one faces murder charges, contact Dallas criminal attorneys Keith and Kevin Harris right away and let them begin defending you in your murder case today.