What Does CONTINUOUS VIOL AGAINST THE FAMILY Mean?
People see “CONTINUOUS VIOLENCE AGAINST THE FAMILY” on a court document or jail record and want to know what it means.
This charge means the defendant is accused of committing two or more acts of assault against a family or household member within a twelve-month period. It is a single charge that covers a pattern of conduct rather than a single incident.
The statute and the punishment
The offense is defined in section 25.11 of the Texas Penal Code. The punishment is a third-degree felony: 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
If your loved one has been arrested for this charge, read If Your Loved One Has Been Arrested.
How is continuous violence against the family sentenced in Harris County?
We built a free, public tool that shows how these cases have actually been resolved in Harris County courts: how often they end in conviction, deferred adjudication, or dismissal, and the range of sentences, broken down by court and by year. See the real outcomes for this charge.