Texas Penal Code 25.09 – Advertising for Placement of Child

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Texas Penal Code 25.09 – Advertising for Placement of Child

WHAT IS ADVERTISING FOR PLACEMENT OF CHILD IN TEXAS?

Advertising for placement of a child criminalizes broadcasting an offer or request to rehome a child without previous authorization by a court.

Texas Penal Code 25.09 – Advertising for Placement of Child

WHAT IS THE ADVERTISING FOR PLACEMENT OF CHILD LAW IN TEXAS?

Tex. Penal Code § 25.09. ADVERTISING FOR PLACEMENT OF CHILD.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person advertises in the public media that the person will place, provide, or obtain a child for adoption or any other form of permanent physical custody of the child.

(b) This section does not apply to a licensed child-placing agency that is identified in the advertisement as a licensed child-placing agency.

(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor unless the person has been convicted previously under this section, in which event the offense is a felony of the third degree.

WHAT IS THE PENALTY CLASS FOR ADVERTISING FOR PLACEMENT OF CHILD IN TEXAS?

The first time a person commits advertising for placement of a child, it is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in county jail. If a person is convicted and subsequently commits the same offense, it is a third degree felony, punishable by two to ten years in prison.

WHAT IS THE PUNISHMENT RANGE FOR ADVERTISING FOR PLACEMENT OF CHILD IN TEXAS?

The punishment range for advertising for placement of a child charged as a Class A misdemeanor is up to one year in county jail, and up to a $4,000 fine. If advertising for placement of a child is charged as a third degree felony, it carries a possible two to ten years in prison, and up to a $10,000 fine.

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR ADVERTISING FOR PLACEMENT OF CHILD IN TEXAS?

As an alternative to jail or prison, a person may be placed on probation after a conviction, or deferred adjudication to avoid a conviction. If the offense is charged as a Class A misdemeanor, the maximum period of community supervision is two years. Advertising for the placement of a child charged as a third degree carries up to ten years of probation or deferred adjudication.

WHAT ARE THE DEFENSES TO ADVERTISING FOR PLACEMENT OF CHILD IN TEXAS?

There are few defenses available to a person accused of advertising for placement of a child. However, licensed child-placing agencies authorized to advertise for the placement of children are specifically exempt from criminal liability.

WHAT IS THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR ADVERTISING FOR PLACEMENT OF CHILD IN TEXAS?

The statute of limitations for advertising for placement of a child charged as a Class A misdemeanor is two years. If advertising for placement of a child is charged as a third degree felony, the statute of limitations is three years.

ADVERTISING FOR PLACEMENT OF CHILD IN TEXAS

This law was enacted with Section 25.081, which outlaws the unregulated transfer of an adopted child. To prevent the unauthorized rehoming of an adopted child and abuse of adopted children, people are subject to criminal liability for merely making an advertisement to rehome a child. Any transfer of permanent physical custody of an adopted child must be approved by a court.

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Trey Porter is one of the highest-rated criminal defense attorneys in Texas. Nationally recognized, Mr. Porter relentlessly fights to protect and assert his clients’ constitutional rights in and out of courtrooms across the state.

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