Texas Law: State Jail Felonies

In Texas criminal law, there is a special classification ofjail felony shall be punished by confinement in a state
felony offense call a "State Jail Felony."  Although stilljail for any term of not more than two years or less
a felony, it is a criminal classification all its own.  Statethan 180 days.
Jail Felonies are more serious than Class A(b)  In addition to confinement, an individual adjudged
Misdemeanors, and less serious than Third Degreeguilty of a state jail felony may be punished by a fine
Felonies.  Defendants who are convicted andnot to exceed $10,000.
sentenced on a State Jail Felony charge will serve(c)  An individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony
their sentence in a State Jail Facility.  These areshall be punished for a third degree felony if it is shown
Texas penal facilities separate and apart from theon the trial of the offense that:
regular prison system and county jail systems.  For(1)  a deadly weapon as defined by Section 1.07
persons convicted of felonies of the third degree andwas used or exhibited during the commission of the
higher, they will serve their sentences in the Institutionaloffense or during immediate flight following the
Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. commission of the offense, and that the individual used
Those convicted of misdemeanors will serve theiror exhibited the deadly weapon or was a party to the
sentences in the county jail.  For State Jail Felonyoffense and knew that a deadly weapon would be
convicts, sentences are to be served in a Texasused or exhibited; or
State Jail Facility.  And unlike prison, there is no(2)  the individual has previously been finally
parole.  Are sentences are served day for day.convicted of any felony:
They following is the Texas statute relating to State(A)  under Section 21.02 or listed in Section 3g(a)(1),
Jail Felonies:Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
Sec. 12.35.  STATE JAIL FELONY(B)  for which the judgment contains an affirmative
PUNISHMENT.  (a)  Except as provided byfinding under Section 3g(a)(2), Article 42.12, Code of
Subsection (c), an individual adjudged guilty of a stateCriminal Procedure.