Facing continuous family violence charges in Texas? If convicted, you’re looking at serious jail time that could derail your life and destroy your family. Unlike a first-time family violence offense, continuous family violence is a felony charge that Texas prosecutors take extremely seriously — and the penalties reflect that. You need to understand exactly what you’re up against so you can protect your future.
The jail time for continuous family violence in Texas depends on the specific circumstances of your case, but here’s how the law charges repeat family violence offenses:
| Charge classification | Crime level | Maximum fine | Potential jail time |
| Continuous family violence (2+ incidents within 12 months) | Third degree felony | $10,000 | 2–10 years |
| Continuous family violence with prior conviction | Second degree felony | $10,000 | 2–20 years |
| Continuous family violence against child under 14 | Second degree felony | $10,000 | 2–20 years |
| Continuous family violence with deadly weapon | Second degree felony | $10,000 | 2–20 years |
Don’t let a continuous family violence charge destroy your future. Call Houston domestic violence attorney, Mark Thiessen of Thiessen Law Firm, today at (713) 864-9000 to start building your defense.
What is the punishment for continuous family violence in Texas?
Is continuous family violence a felony in Texas? Absolutely — and it’s one of the most serious family violence charges you can face. Unlike a simple assault on a family member or even a first-time assault charge in Texas, continuous family violence carries mandatory prison time and life-altering consequences that extend far beyond your sentence.
The punishment for continuous family violence in Texas is severe because the law treats it as an escalated pattern of abuse rather than an isolated incident. Here’s what you’re facing if you’re convicted:
Prison time
Prison sentences for continuous family violence range from 2 to 20 years, depending on the specific circumstances of your case. For a standard third-degree felony conviction, you’re looking at 2 to 10 years in state prison. However, if your case involves aggravating factors like assault family violence with previous conviction in Texas, a victim under 14, or use of a deadly weapon, the charge escalates to a second-degree felony with a potential sentence of 2 to 20 years.
Unlike misdemeanor family violence cases, there’s no option for county jail time — you’ll serve your sentence in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility. The judge has discretion within the sentencing range, but prosecutors often push for maximum penalties in these cases.
Learn more: How much is bond for assault?
Heavy fines
Because they’re all felony charges, you’ll face fines up to $10,000 for any continuous family violence conviction. These fines come on top of court costs, attorney fees, and other expenses related to your case. Many defendants underestimate the total financial impact, which can become incalculable when you factor in all the associated costs, lost wages, and trouble getting back to work.
The court may also order you to pay restitution to victims for medical expenses, counseling costs, or property damage. This financial burden can follow you for years after your release from prison.
Mandatory probation conditions
If you’re eligible for probation instead of prison time, or parole afterwards, you’ll face strict conditions that can last for years. These typically include regular reporting to a probation officer, completion of anger management or domestic violence intervention programs, drug and alcohol screenings, and maintaining steady employment.
You’ll also be prohibited from contacting the alleged victims, which can be particularly challenging in cases involving family members. Violating any probation condition can result in immediate imprisonment for the full original sentence.
Permanent criminal record
A continuous violence against the family charge in Texas creates a permanent felony record that will follow you forever. This conviction cannot be expunged or sealed, meaning it will appear on every background check for the rest of your life.
This permanent record affects everything from employment opportunities to housing applications, professional licensing, and even your ability to own firearms. Many employers automatically disqualify felony applicants, and landlords often refuse to rent to people with violent crime convictions.
Loss of constitutional rights
Felony convictions strip away fundamental rights that many people take for granted. You’ll lose your right to vote while incarcerated and on parole, though this can be restored after completing your sentence and any probationary periods in Texas.
More permanently, you’ll lose your right to own or possess firearms under both state and federal law. This prohibition extends to your home — you can’t live in a residence where firearms are present, which can complicate family relationships and living situations.
Immigration consequences
For non-U.S. citizens, a continuous family violence conviction can trigger deportation proceedings and permanently bar you from returning to the United States. Immigration courts treat domestic violence convictions as particularly serious, often leading to mandatory removal even for longtime residents.
These consequences apply regardless of your current immigration status — even permanent residents can face deportation for continuous family violence convictions. The immigration impact often surprises defendants who focus solely on the criminal penalties.
What factors increase jail time for continuous family violence charges?
The penalties you’re looking at depend heavily on the specific circumstances of your case. Several aggravating factors can push your potential sentence from the minimum 2 years all the way up to 20 years in prison — and prosecutors will dig deep to find every possible enhancement they can use against you.
Key factors that can drastically increase your jail time include:
- Prior criminal history
- Use of a deadly weapon
- Incidents involving children under 14
- Serious bodily injury, broken bones, or permanent disfigurement
- Continued violence despite court orders
- Presence of children during incidents
- Pattern of escalating violence
- Substance abuse during incidents
Here’s the bottom line: these aggravating factors can turn a bad situation into a catastrophic one. The presence of multiple factors compounds your problems, often leading judges to throw the book at you with maximum sentences. Don’t face these serious charges alone — you need experienced legal representation to protect your future.
How to beat a family violence case in Texas?
Facing a family violence charge doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to prison. Even with the severe continuous family violence Texas punishment on the table, there are proven defense strategies that can get charges reduced or dismissed entirely.
The key is acting fast and building a strong defense before prosecutors solidify their case against you. Here’s how:
- Hire an experienced family violence attorney immediately: Don’t wait until your court date approaches; prosecutors start building their case from day one, and you need someone fighting for you just as hard.
- Challenge the evidence and investigate constitutional violations: Question everything from witness statements to physical evidence; police reports often contain errors, and illegal searches or Miranda violations can get crucial evidence thrown out.
- Investigate potential self-defense claims: If you were protecting yourself or others from harm, this can be a complete defense to family violence charges.
- Examine the assault statute of limitations and case timing: While most family violence cases are filed quickly, ensure prosecutors haven’t waited too long to bring charges under Texas law.
- Gather supportive evidence and witnesses: Collect character references, medical records, photos, text messages, or surveillance footage that supports your version of events, and document everything throughout the process.
- Explore plea negotiations and alternative sentencing: Sometimes negotiating a reduction to a lesser charge or programs like pretrial diversion can avoid the life-altering consequences of a family violence conviction.
- Prepare for trial if necessary: If the prosecution won’t offer reasonable terms, be ready to fight your case in front of a jury with a comprehensive defense strategy.
Don’t let fear or embarrassment prevent you from fighting these charges with everything you’ve got. Family violence cases can absolutely be beaten, but only if you take action now. The sooner you start fighting back, the better your chances of keeping your freedom and your future intact.
Turn the tables on your continuous family violence charges with defense from Thiessen Law Firm.
You don’t have to accept a guilty verdict for continuous family violence in Texas — not without a fight. These charges can destroy everything you’ve worked for, but with the right legal team in your corner, you can challenge the prosecution’s case and protect your future.
Mark Thiessen and the experienced criminal defense attorneys at Thiessen Law Firm have successfully defended clients against the most serious criminal charges throughout Texas. We know how prosecutors build these cases, and more importantly, we know how to tear them apart. From challenging evidence to negotiating favorable plea deals, we’ll explore every possible defense strategy to get you the best outcome.
The stakes are too high to handle this alone, and every day you wait gives prosecutors more time to strengthen their case against you. Call Thiessen Law Firm today at (713) 864-9000 or contact us online to start fighting for your freedom and your future.
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