(a) An offense committed wholly or partly outside this state under circumstances that give this state jurisdiction to prosecute the defendant may be prosecuted in any county in which:
(1) the defendant is found; or
(2) an element of the offense occurs.
(b) Criminal homicide committed wholly or partly outside this state under circumstances that give this state jurisdiction to prosecute the defendant may be prosecuted in the county in which:
(1) the injury was inflicted;
(2) the defendant was located when the defendant inflicted the injury; or
(3) the victim died or the victim’s body was found.


Text of article effective on January 01, 2025

Terms Used In Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 13A.051

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.