Statute of Limitations for Class B / 2nd Degree Felony in Texas

Overview

Run this scenario in DocketMath using the Statute Of Limitations calculator.

In Texas, the statute of limitations (SOL) for a criminal case determines how long the state has to file charges (or proceed under certain circumstances) after the alleged offense date. For a Class B / “2nd degree felony” category of conduct, Texas typically relies on the timing rules in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 12.

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator translates those rules into a day-accurate output you can use for planning, document review, and timeline checks.

Limitation period

For the Texas Class B / 2nd degree felony category, the baseline limitation period shown for Chapter 12 is:

• SOL period: 0.0833333333 years
• That equals: 1 month (approximately 30 days)

How to think about the timeline

When you compute an SOL deadline, you’re typically answering: “How late can the prosecution be initiated based on the offense date?” In practice, the “deadline” can be affected by:

• the specific article that applies under Chapter 12
• any tolling or exception provisions that pause or alter the count
• the way the state alleges the relevant date (e.g., the “offense date” versus a later date tied to the conduct)

Practical input/output concept (for DocketMath)

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool is designed to make the SOL calculation predictable. In general terms, you’ll provide:

• the offense date (the start point for the SOL count)
• the charge category (to match the correct limitation rule)
• whether any exception category applies (the tool highlights when an exception is relevant)

Then the tool outputs:

• the SOL length (e.g., 1 month)
• the estimated deadline date based on the offense date
• flags for exceptions that could change the outcome

Checkbox checklist for running the calculator confidently:

Key exceptions

Texas’s SOL rules include exceptions that can substantially change how the time window runs. Chapter 12 contains an important baseline framework and additional exception logic reflected in the calculator’s sub-rules.

Below are the sub-rules relevant to the Chapter 12 timing logic as implemented for this calculator:

Sub-rule P2 (3-year rule)

• Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 12.01 — 3 years — exception P2
• Use this when the case does not fall under the shorter limitation period logic and instead maps to the 3-year regime.

Sub-rule P3 (short period override / exception)

• Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 12 — 0.0833333333 years — exception P3
• This corresponds to the 1-month period shown for the Class B / 2nd degree felony category under the Chapter 12 rule set used by DocketMath.

Common workflow pitfall: mixing up the category

Even small mismatches between how the charge is labeled (and which limitation rule is triggered) can swing the timeline from ~1 month to 3 years.

What DocketMath does to help

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator is structured to:

• apply the SOL length tied to the correct Chapter 12 rule
• surface when an exception changes the baseline window (P2 vs. P3 in this jurisdiction model)
• compute a deadline date so you can compare against real filing/procedure dates

Statute citation

Texas SOL timing for criminal matters is governed by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 12, including:

• Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 12 (overall SOL framework)

  • Source: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/htm/CR.12.htm
• Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 12.01 — 3 years (exception P2 in the calculator model)
• Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 12 — 0.0833333333 years (i.e., 1 month) (exception P3 in the calculator model)

When calculating a SOL, always confirm that the exact procedural event you care about (e.g., filing versus other case actions) is the one the applicable limitation rule addresses. SOL questions can be sensitive to charging language and case posture.

Use the calculator

Use the primary CTA to run the computation in DocketMath:

• /tools/statute-of-limitations

Inputs you should expect to provide

Use these inputs to keep the output aligned with Chapter 12’s structure:

• Jurisdiction: Texas (US-TX)
• Charge category: Class B / 2nd degree felony
• Offense date: the date the alleged offense occurred (per the charging instrument or record you’re working from)
• Exception mapping: if your situation aligns with the model’s exception paths (P2 vs. P3), select/verify accordingly in the tool interface

Outputs you should expect to receive

After running the calculator, check:

• SOL period applied

  • 0.0833333333 years (~1 month) for the Chapter 12 class/category rule shown under P3
  • 3 years for the alternative art. 12.01 mapping shown under P2
• Estimated SOL deadline date
• Any exception indicator that changes the period used

How outputs change when you alter inputs

Use these “what-if” examples to validate your timeline logic:

• If you switch from a rule mapping that applies 0.0833333333 years (~1 month) to one that applies 3 years, your deadline shifts dramatically—potentially by ~35–36 months.
• If the offense date changes by even a few weeks, a 1-month window can flip whether a given date is “inside” or “outside” the deadline—so record the specific date you entered.

Quick execution checklist

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — How to choose the right calculator
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — How to choose the right calculator