Title CR, Code of Criminal Procedure

Art. 56A.0525. AUTHORIZED FORM OF NOTIFICATIONS. For purposes of this subchapter, a judge, attorney representing the state, peace officer, or law enforcement agency that is required to notify, inform, or disclose information to a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of…

Art. 56A.053. FAILURE TO PROVIDE RIGHT OR SERVICE. (a) A judge, attorney representing the state, peace officer, or law enforcement agency is not liable for a failure or inability to provide a right granted by this subchapter. (b) The failure or inability of any person to provide …

Art. 56A.0531. ASSERTION OF RIGHTS. A victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim may assert the rights provided by this chapter either orally or in writing, individually or through an attorney. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1059 (S.B. 409), Se…

Art. 56A.054. STANDING. A victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim does not have standing to: (1) participate as a party in a criminal proceeding; or (2) contest the disposition of any charge. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 469 (H.B. 4173), S…

Art. 56A.101. VICTIM PRIVACY. (a) As far as reasonably practical, the address of the victim may not be a part of the court file except as necessary to identify the place of the offense. (b) The phone number of the victim may not be a part of the court file. Added by Acts 2019, 86…

Art. 56A.102. VICTIM OR WITNESS DISCOVERY ATTENDANCE. Unless absolutely necessary, a victim or witness who is not confined may not be required to attend a deposition in a correctional facility. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 469 (H.B. 4173), Sec. 1.05, eff. January 1, 2…

Art. 56A.151. VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT; INFORMATION BOOKLET. (a) The clearinghouse, with the participation of the board and the community justice assistance division of the department, shall develop a form to be used by law enforcement agencies, attorneys representing the state, a…

Art. 56A.152. RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE SUBMISSION OF STATEMENT. The victim services division of the department, in consultation with the board, law enforcement agencies, offices of attorneys representing the state, and other participants in the criminal justice system, shall dev…

Art. 56A.153. NOTIFICATION TO COURT REGARDING RELEASE OF DEFENDANT WITH ACCESS TO CHILD VICTIM. If information collected under Article 56A.151(b)(2)(H) indicates the defendant is granted possession of or access to a child victim under court order and the department subsequently i…

Art. 56A.154. CHANGE OF ADDRESS. If a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim states on a victim impact statement that the victim, guardian, or relative wants to be notified of parole proceedings, the victim, guardian, or relative must notify the boar…

Art. 56A.155. DISCOVERY OF STATEMENT. A victim impact statement is subject to discovery under Article 39.14 before the testimony of the victim is taken only if the court determines that the statement contains exculpatory material. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 469 (H.B…

Art. 56A.156. INSPECTION OF STATEMENT BY COURT; DISCLOSURE OF CONTENTS. The court may not inspect a victim impact statement until after a finding of guilt or until deferred adjudication community supervision is ordered and the contents of the statement may not be disclosed to any…

Art. 56A.157. CONSIDERATION OF STATEMENT BY COURT. (a) Before imposing a sentence, a court shall, as applicable, inquire as to whether a victim impact statement has been returned to the attorney representing the state and, if a statement has been returned to the attorney, conside…

Art. 56A.158. DEFENDANT RESPONSE TO STATEMENT. Before sentencing a defendant, a court shall permit the defendant or the defendant's attorney a reasonable period to: (1) read the victim impact statement, excluding the victim's name, address, and telephone number; (2) comment on th…

Art. 56A.159. TRANSFER OF STATEMENT AFTER SENTENCING. (a) If a court sentences a defendant to a period of community supervision, the attorney representing the state shall forward any victim impact statement received in the case to the community supervision and corrections departm…

Art. 56A.160. SURVEY PLAN REGARDING STATEMENTS. (a) In this article, "planning body" means the board, the clearinghouse, and the community justice assistance division of the department. (b) The planning body shall develop a survey plan to maintain statistics on the numbers and ty…

Art. 56A.201. DESIGNATION OF VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR. The district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney who prosecutes criminal cases shall designate a person to serve as victim assistance coordinator in that jurisdiction. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., …

Art. 56A.202. DUTIES OF VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR. (a) The victim assistance coordinator designated under Article 56A.201 shall: (1) ensure that a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim is provided the rights granted to victims, guardians, or rel…

Art. 56A.203. DESIGNATION OF CRIME VICTIM LIAISON. Each local law enforcement agency shall designate one person to serve as the agency's crime victim liaison. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 469 (H.B. 4173), Sec. 1.05, eff. January 1, 2021.

Art. 56A.204. DUTIES OF CRIME VICTIM LIAISON. (a) The crime victim liaison designated under Article 56A.203 shall ensure that a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim is provided the rights granted to victims, guardians, or relatives by Articles 56A.…

Art. 56A.205. PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING FOR CERTAIN JURORS. (a) A commissioners court may approve a program in which a crime victim liaison or victim assistance coordinator may offer not more than 10 hours of post-investigation or posttrial psychological counseling for a person wh…

Art. 56A.301. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Crime laboratory" has the meaning assigned by Article 38.35. (2) "Department" means the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas. (3) Repealed by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 915 (H.B. 3607), Sec. 4.011, eff. Septemb…

Art. 56A.302. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies to the following health care providers that provide diagnosis or treatment services to victims of sexual assault: (1) a general or special hospital licensed under Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code; (2) a general or special ho…

Art. 56A.303. FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATION. (a) In accordance with Subchapter B, Chapter 420, Government Code, and except as provided by Subsection (b), a health care provider shall conduct a forensic medical examination of: (1) a victim of a sexual assault who is a minor as defi…

Art. 56A.304. PAYMENT OF FEES RELATED TO EXAMINATION. (a) On application to the attorney general and subject to Article 56A.305(e), a health care provider that provides a forensic medical examination to a sexual assault survivor in accordance with this subchapter, or the sexual a…

Art. 56A.3045. PAYMENT OF COSTS RELATED TO TESTIMONY. A law enforcement agency or an office of the attorney representing the state may pay any costs related to the testimony of a licensed health care professional in a criminal proceeding regarding the results of a forensic medica…

Art. 56A.305. PAYMENT OF COSTS FOR CERTAIN MEDICAL CARE. (a) The attorney general shall make a payment to a victim of a sexual assault or on behalf of a victim of a sexual assault for the reasonable costs incurred for medical care that is provided to the victim as described by Ar…

Art. 56A.306. PROCEDURES FOR TRANSFER AND PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE. (a) The department, consistent with Chapter 420, Government Code, shall develop procedures for the transfer, preservation, and testing of evidence collected during a forensic medical examination for a sexual assa…

Art. 56A.307. PROCEDURES FOR SUBMISSION OR COLLECTION OF ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE. The department, consistent with Chapter 420, Government Code, may develop procedures regarding the submission or collection of additional evidence of a sexual assault other than through a forensic medic…

Art. 56A.308. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN RECORDS. (a) In this article, "identifying information" includes information that: (1) reveals the identity, personal history, or background of a person; or (2) concerns the victimization of a person. (b) A communication or record is confi…

Art. 56A.309. RULES. The attorney general and the department shall each adopt rules as necessary to implement this subchapter. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 469 (H.B. 4173), Sec. 1.05, eff. January 1, 2021. SUBCHAPTER H. PRESENCE OF ADVOCATE OR REPRESENTATIVE DURING FO…

Art. 56A.351. PRESENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM ADVOCATE. (a) Before conducting a forensic medical examination of a victim who consents to the examination for the collection of evidence for an alleged sexual assault, the physician or other medical services personnel conducting t…

Art. 56A.3515. PRESENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM ADVOCATE OR OTHER VICTIM'S REPRESENTATIVE DURING LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEW. (a) Before conducting an investigative interview with a victim reporting a sexual assault, other than a victim who is a minor as defined by Section 101.00…

Art. 56A.352. REPRESENTATIVE PROVIDED BY PENAL INSTITUTION. (a) In this article, "penal institution" has the meaning assigned by Section 1.07, Penal Code. (b) If a victim alleging to have sustained injuries as the victim of a sexual assault was confined in a penal institution at …

Art. 56A.401. NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS. At the initial contact or at the earliest possible time after the initial contact between a victim of a reported offense and the law enforcement agency having the responsibility for investigating the offense, the agency shall provide the vict…

Art. 56A.403. DUTIES OF PEACE OFFICERS REGARDING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. (a) A peace officer who investigates an incident involving sexual assault or who responds to a disturbance call that may involve sexual assault shall provide to the victim a written notice containing info…

Art. 56A.451. NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS. (a) Not later than the 10th day after the date that an indictment or information is returned against a defendant for an offense, the attorney representing the state shall give to each victim of the offense a written notice containing: (1) the…

Art. 56A.452. NOTIFICATION OF SCHEDULED COURT PROCEEDINGS. (a) If requested by the victim, the attorney representing the state, at least five business days before the date of the court proceeding or the filing of the continuance request or otherwise as soon as reasonably practica…

Art. 56A.453. NOTIFICATION OF PLEA BARGAIN AGREEMENT. The attorney representing the state, as far as reasonably practical, shall give a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim notice of the existence and terms of any plea bargain agreement to be prese…

Art. 56A.454. VICTIM CONTACT INFORMATION. (a) A victim who receives a notice under Article 56A.451(a) and who chooses to receive other notice under law about the same case must keep the following persons informed of the victim's current address and phone number: (1) the attorney …

Art. 56A.501. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "correctional facility" has the meaning assigned by Section 1.07, Penal Code. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 469 (H.B. 4173), Sec. 1.05, eff. January 1, 2021. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 797 (S.B. 1120), Sec.…

Art. 56A.502. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies to a defendant convicted of: (1) an offense under Title 5, Penal Code, that is punishable as a felony; (2) an offense described by Section 508.187(a), Government Code, other than an offense described by Subdivision (1); or (3) …

Art. 56A.503. NOTIFICATION OF RELEASE OR ESCAPE. (a) The department or sheriff, whichever has custody of a defendant in the case of a felony, or the sheriff in the case of a misdemeanor, shall notify a victim of the offense or a witness who testified against the defendant at the …

Art. 56A.504. NOTIFICATION REGARDING DEFENDANT SUBJECT TO ELECTRONIC MONITORING. The department, in the case of a defendant released on parole or to mandatory supervision following a term of imprisonment for an offense described by Article 56A.502, or a community supervision and …

Art. 56A.505. NOTIFICATION OF RIGHT TO NOTICE. Not later than immediately following the conviction of a defendant for an offense described by Article 56A.502, the attorney who represented the state in the prosecution of the case shall notify in writing a victim or witness describ…

Art. 56A.506. VICTIM OR WITNESS CONTACT INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) A victim or witness who wants notification under this subchapter must: (1) provide the department, the sheriff, or the community supervision and corrections department supervising the defendant, as appropri…