GroundRules
← Search the law
Texas · Through 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025

Tex. Penal Code § 9.42: DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT PROPERTY.

Read at publisher ↗
Where this section sits in the code
  1. PENAL CODE
  2. TITLE 2. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY
  3. CHAPTER 9. JUSTIFICATION EXCLUDING CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY
  4. SUBCHAPTER D. PROTECTION OF PROPERTY

A person is justified in using deadly force against another to protect land or tangible, movable property:

(1) if he would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.41; and

(2) when and to the degree he reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary:

(A) to prevent the other's imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, theft during the nighttime, or criminal mischief during the nighttime; or

(B) to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the nighttime from escaping with the property; and

(3) he reasonably believes that:

(A) the land or property cannot be protected or recovered by any other means; or

(B) the use of force other than deadly force to protect or recover the land or property would expose the actor or another to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.

Collected 2026-08-27T01:47:34Z. Source file · JSON

Browse this collection