Assault
Penal Code 22.01 — injury, a threat, or offensive contact
Texas's assault section covers three kinds of conduct: intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to another, including a spouse; intentionally or knowingly threatening another with imminent bodily injury; and intentionally or knowingly causing physical contact that the person knows or should reasonably believe the other will regard as offensive or provocative.
| The conduct | The class |
|---|---|
| The conductCausing bodily injury | The classClass A misdemeanor |
| The conductThreatening imminent bodily injury, or offensive contact | The classClass C misdemeanor, with exceptions the section lists |
| The conductBodily injury to a public servant lawfully discharging an official duty | The classThird degree felony |
| The conductBodily injury to a family or household member or dating partner, with a prior conviction for such an offense against one | The classThird degree felony |
| The conductBodily injury to such a person by impeding normal breathing or blood circulation, by pressure to the throat or neck or blocking the nose or mouth | The classThird degree felony |
The section raises the class for injury to a number of others it names, among them security officers, emergency services personnel, process servers, hospital personnel on hospital property and utility workers on duty, and higher for some repeat and aggravated cases. The punishment ranges for each class are on the theft ladder page.
Sources for this section (1)
- Penal Code 22.01 — Assault
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Texas attorney.