Title CR, Code of Criminal Procedure

Art. 49A.118. CREMATION. (a) A body on which an inquest is authorized by this subchapter may not be cremated unless the body is identified and: (1) an autopsy was performed as provided by this subchapter; or (2) an autopsy was not necessary. (b) Before a body may be cremated, the…

Art. 49A.119. REPORTING CAUSE OF DEATH; KEEPING RECORDS; ISSUING DEATH CERTIFICATES. (a) For each inquest conducted, the medical examiner shall file with the district attorney or criminal district attorney of the county in which the death occurred, or shall file with the county a…

Art. 49A.120. WITHHOLDING OF RECORDS NOT PERMITTED; EXCEPTIONS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) and subject to a discretionary exception under Chapter 552, Government Code, records described by Article 49A.119(b) may not be withheld. (b) A photograph or x-ray of a body t…

Art. 49A.121. RELEASE OF CERTAIN RECORDS. (a) A medical examiner may release a copy of an autopsy report of a deceased person to an organ and tissue procurement organization, hospital, or other covered entity, as defined by Section 181.001, Health and Safety Code, that: (1) treat…

Art. 49A.122. FEES. (a) Subject to Subsections (b) and (c), a medical examiner may charge reasonable fees for services provided by the medical examiner's office under this subchapter and Article 49A.251, including cremation approvals, court testimonies, consultations, and deposit…

Art. 49A.123. GENERAL CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly violates this subchapter. (b) An offense under this article is a Class B misdemeanor. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 202 (H.B. 1610), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2027. SUBCHAPTE…

Art. 49A.151. COUNTY SERVED BY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE: NOTICE AND REPORT OF DEATH OCCURRING IN INSTITUTION. (a) For the purposes of this article, "institution" does not include a hospital. (b) A superintendent or general manager of an institution who is required by Article 49A.053 …

Art. 49A.152. COUNTY SERVED BY MEDICAL EXAMINER: NOTICE AND REPORT OF DEATH OCCURRING IN INSTITUTION; OFFENSE. (a) A superintendent or general manager of an institution who reports a death that occurred under circumstances described by Article 49A.109(a) to a medical examiner's o…

Art. 49A.153. COUNTY SERVED BY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE: INVESTIGATION AND REPORT OF DEATH OCCURRING WHILE CONFINED OR IN PEACE OFFICER CUSTODY. (a) In this article: (1) "Correctional facility" means a confinement facility or halfway house operated by or under contract with the Texas…

Art. 49A.201. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter does not apply to an autopsy that: (1) is ordered by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or an authorized official of the department in accordance with Section 501.055(d), Government Code; or (2) a justice of the peace or medical …

Art. 49A.202. INFORMED CONSENT TO POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION OR AUTOPSY REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a physician may not perform, or assist in the performance of, a postmortem examination or autopsy on the body of a deceased person unless the physician obtains …

Art. 49A.203. PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO CONSENT TO POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION OR AUTOPSY. (a) Subject to Subsections (b) and (c), consent for a postmortem examination or autopsy may be given by any member of the following classes of persons who is reasonably available, in the following o…

Art. 49A.204. POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION OR AUTOPSY CONSENT FORM. The commissioner of state health services, in consultation with the Texas Medical Board, shall prescribe a standard written consent form for a postmortem examination or autopsy. The form must: (1) include the name of t…

Art. 49A.205. RIGHT TO NONAFFILIATED PHYSICIAN REVIEWING OR PERFORMING AUTOPSY. (a) A person authorized to consent to a postmortem examination or autopsy of a decedent under Article 49A.203 may request that a physician who is not affiliated with the institution where the death oc…

Art. 49A.251. WAITING PERIOD BEFORE CREMATION; OFFENSE. (a) The body of a deceased person may not be cremated within 48 hours after the time of death as indicated on the death certificate, unless: (1) the death certificate indicates death was caused by: (A) Asiatic cholera; (B) b…

Art. 49A.252. RIGHT OF PARENT OF DECEASED PERSON TO VIEW PERSON'S BODY. (a) In this article, "parent" has the meaning assigned by Section 160.102, Family Code. (b) Except as otherwise provided by this article, a parent of a deceased person is entitled to view the person's body be…

Art. 50.01. INVESTIGATIONS. Text of section effective until April 01, 2027 When an affidavit is made by a credible person before any justice of the peace that there is ground to believe that any building has been unlawfully set or attempted to be set on fire, such justice shall c…

Art. 50.02. PROCEEDINGS. Text of section effective until April 01, 2027 The proceedings in such case shall be governed by the laws relating to inquests upon dead bodies. The officer conducting such investigations shall have the same powers as are conferred upon justices of the pe…

Art. 50.03. VERDICT IN FIRE INQUEST. Text of section effective until April 01, 2027 The jury after inspecting the place in question and after hearing the testimony, shall deliver to the justice holding such inquest its written signed verdict in which it shall find and certify how…

Art. 50.04. WITNESSES BOUND OVER. Text of section effective until April 01, 2027 If the jury finds that any building has been unlawfully set on fire or has been attempted so to be, the justice holding such inquest shall bind over the witnesses to appear and testify before the nex…

Art. 50.05. WARRANT FOR ACCUSED. Text of section effective until April 01, 2027 If the person charged with the offense, if any, be not in custody, the justice of the peace shall issue a warrant for his arrest, and when arrested, such person shall be dealt with as in other like ca…

Art. 50.06. TESTIMONY WRITTEN DOWN. Text of section effective until April 01, 2027 In all such investigations, the testimony of all witnesses examined before the jury shall be reduced to writing by or under the direction of the justice and signed by each witness. Such testimony t…

Art. 50.07. COMPENSATION. Text of section effective until April 01, 2027 The pay of the officers and jury making such investigation shall be the same as that allowed for the holding of an inquest upon a dead body, so far as applicable, and shall be paid in like manner. Acts 1965,…

Art. 50A.001. FIRES REQUIRING INQUEST. A justice of the peace shall conduct a fire inquest if a credible person makes an affidavit before the justice of the peace that there is reason to believe a building has been unlawfully set or attempted to be set on fire. Added by Acts 2025…

Art. 50A.002. FIRE INQUEST PROCEEDINGS GOVERNED BY LAWS RELATING TO DEATH INQUESTS; POWERS OF INVESTIGATOR. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, a fire inquest proceeding under this chapter is governed by the laws relating to death inquests under Chapter 49A. (b) An …

Art. 50A.003. WITNESS TESTIMONY. The testimony of each witness examined before a jury in a fire inquest under this chapter shall be: (1) reduced to writing by or under the direction of the justice of the peace; and (2) signed by the witness. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., C…

Art. 50A.004. JURY VERDICT IN FIRE INQUEST. (a) After inspecting the location that is the subject of a fire inquest and hearing the testimony, a jury in the inquest shall deliver to the justice of the peace conducting the inquest the jury's written signed verdict, in which the ju…

Art. 50A.005. WITNESSES BOUND OVER. If the jury finds that a building has been unlawfully set or attempted to be set on fire, the justice of the peace conducting the fire inquest shall bind over each witness to appear and testify before the next grand jury of the county in which …

Art. 50A.006. ISSUANCE OF ARREST WARRANT. If a person charged with the offense described by Article 50A.005 is not in custody, the justice of the peace conducting the fire inquest shall issue a warrant for the person's arrest. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 202 (H.B. 16…

Art. 50A.007. INQUEST RESULT REPORTED TO DISTRICT COURT. (a) The justice of the peace conducting the inquest shall certify the testimony described by Article 50A.003, the verdict, and all bail bonds taken in the case. (b) The justice of the peace shall return the items described …

Art. 50A.008. COMPENSATION FOR OFFICERS AND JURY. The amount and manner of compensation for the officers and jury members performing a fire inquest under this chapter shall, to the extent applicable, be the same as that allowed for an inquest conducted under Chapter 49A. Added by…

Art. 51.01. DELIVERED UP. A person in any other State of the United States charged with treason or any felony who shall flee from justice and be found in this State, shall on demand of the executive authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the …

Art. 51.02. TO AID IN ARREST. All peace officers of the State shall give aid in the arrest and detention of a fugitive from any other State that he may be held subject to a requisition by the Governor of the State from which he fled. Acts 1965, 59th Leg., vol. 2, p. 317, ch. 722.

Art. 51.03. MAGISTRATE'S WARRANT. When a complaint is made to a magistrate that any person within his jurisdiction is a fugitive from justice from another State, he shall issue a warrant of arrest directing a peace officer to apprehend and bring the accused before him. Acts 1965,…

Art. 51.04. COMPLAINT. The complaint shall be sufficient if it recites: 1. The name of the person accused; 2. The State from which he has fled; 3. The offense committed by the accused; 4. That he has fled to this State from the State where the offense was committed; and 5. That t…

Art. 51.05. BAIL OR COMMITMENT. When the accused is brought before the magistrate, he shall hear proof, and if satisfied that the accused is charged in another State with the offense named in the complaint, he shall require of him bail with sufficient security, in such amount as …

Art. 51.06. NOTICE OF ARREST. The magistrate who held or committed such fugitive shall immediately notify the Secretary of State and the district or county attorney of his county of such fact and the date thereof, stating the name of such fugitive, the State from which he fled, a…

Art. 51.07. DISCHARGE. A fugitive not arrested under a warrant from the Governor of this State before the expiration of ninety days from the day of his commitment or the date of the bail shall be discharged. Acts 1965, 59th Leg., vol. 2, p. 317, ch. 722.

Art. 51.08. SECOND ARREST. A person who has once been arrested under the provisions of this title and discharged under the provisions of the preceding Article or by habeas corpus shall not be again arrested upon a charge of the same offense, except by a warrant from the Governor …

Art. 51.09. GOVERNOR MAY DEMAND FUGITIVE. When the Governor deems it proper to demand a person who has committed an offense in this State and has fled to another State, he may commission any suitable person to take such requisition. The accused, if brought back to the State, shal…

Art. 51.10. PAY OF AGENT; TRAVELING EXPENSES. Sec. 1. The officer or person so commissioned shall receive as compensation the actual and necessary traveling expenses upon requisition of the Governor to be allowed by such Governor and to be paid out of the State Treasury upon a ce…

Art. 51.11. REWARD. The Governor may offer a reward for the apprehension of one accused of a felony in this State who is evading arrest, by causing such offer to be published in such manner as he deems most likely to effect the arrest. The reward shall be paid out of the State Tr…

Art. 51.12. SHERIFF TO REPORT. Each sheriff upon the close of any regular term of the district or criminal district court in his county, or within thirty days thereafter, shall make out and mail to the Director of the Department of Public Safety a certified list of all persons, w…

Art. 51.13. UNIFORM CRIMINAL EXTRADITION ACT. Sec. 1. DEFINITIONS. Where appearing in this Article, the term "Governor" includes any person performing the functions of Governor by authority of the laws of this State. The term "Executive Authority" includes the Governor, and any p…

Art. 51.14. INTERSTATE AGREEMENT ON DETAINERS. This article may be cited as the "Interstate Agreement on Detainers Act." This agreement on detainers is hereby enacted into law and entered into by this state with all other jurisdictions legally joined therein in the form substanti…

Art. 52.01. COURTS OF INQUIRY CONDUCTED BY DISTRICT JUDGES. (a) When a judge of any district court of this state, acting in his capacity as magistrate, has probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed against the laws of this state, he may request that the presidi…