ASSAULT FAM/HOUSE MEM IMPEDE BREATH/CIRCULATTexas Penal Code (PC) § 22.01(b)(2)(b)
“ASSAULT FAM/HOUSE MEM IMPEDE BREATH/CIRCULAT” stands for Assault of a Family or Household Member by Choking or Strangulation, a third-degree felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 22.01(b)(2)(b). It is punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “ASSAULT FAM/HOUSE MEM IMPEDE BREATH/CIRCULAT” mean?
“ASSAULT FAM/HOUSE MEM IMPEDE BREATH/CIRCULAT” stands for Assault of a Family or Household Member by Choking or Strangulation, a third-degree felony under Texas PC § 22.01(b)(2)(b).
Texas Penal Code § 22.01(b)(2)(B) defines assault of a family or household member or dating partner by impeding breath or circulation — commonly described as assault by strangulation or suffocation. The State must prove a bodily-injury assault under § 22.01(a)(1) against a person whose relationship to the defendant falls within Texas Family Code §§ 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005 — a dating relationship, family membership, or shared household — and that the defendant committed the assault by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of that person by applying pressure to the person's throat or neck or by blocking the person's nose or mouth. The manner of the assault is the distinguishing element: the same relationship with a qualifying prior conviction instead falls under § 22.01(b)(2)(A), and impeding breath combined with such a prior conviction falls under § 22.01(b-3).
What usually happens to a ASSAULT FAM/HOUSE MEM IMPEDE BREATH/CIRCULAT charge?
67% ended without a conviction, 21% in deferred adjudication and 12% in a conviction.
How 8,105 resolved ASSAULT FAM/HOUSE MEM IMPEDE BREATH/CIRCULAT charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 13 counties (Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Galveston, Harris, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Travis, Williamson):
| County | Resolved | Not convicted | Deferred | Convicted | Median days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris | 5,001 | 73% | 18% | 9% | 351 |
| Collin | 769 | 62% | 29% | 8% | 228 |
| Hays | 506 | 51% | 23% | 26% | 429 |
| Montgomery | 326 | 47% | 28% | 25% | 184 |
| Williamson | 320 | 73% | 20% | 6% | 300 |
| Dallas | 254 | 55% | 32% | 11% | 206 |
| FortBend | 240 | 58% | 30% | 13% | 514 |
| Galveston | 240 | 54% | 25% | 21% | 309 |
| Brazoria | 193 | 61% | 23% | 16% | 259 |
| Travis | 102 | 50% | 20% | 29% | 570 |
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (48) covers waived counts, bond forfeitures, transfers and unrecorded outcomes. Bexar County records disposition dates but not outcomes, so it counts toward time-to-disposition only. Tarrant County criminal records are not in this dataset.
How long does a ASSAULT FAM/HOUSE MEM IMPEDE BREATH/CIRCULAT case take to resolve?
Typically about 11 months: half of resolved cases closed within 327 days of filing.
Across 8,101 resolved ASSAULT FAM/HOUSE MEM IMPEDE BREATH/CIRCULAT charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 327 days. The middle half took between 186 and 553 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real ASSAULT FAM/HOUSE MEM IMPEDE BREATH/CIRCULAT cases end?
Individual cases from the public court record, with the disposition and sentence text exactly as the clerk entered it. Every case is decided on its own facts.
Ended without a conviction
Deferred adjudication
Ended in a conviction
What is the punishment for Assault of a Family or Household Member by Choking or Strangulation in Texas?
2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third-degree felony | 2 to 10 years in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.34 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for ASSAULT FAM/HOUSE MEM IMPEDE BREATH/CIRCULAT in Texas?
The median bail is $10,000, and 1% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 51,292 Texas bail settings for this charge (123 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $10,000 (middle half: $5,000 – $25,000). 1% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 3,436 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (22,284 records), the median was $12,000 and 1% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 7,090 | $5,000 | $3,000 – $10,000 | 0% | 4% |
| Dallas | 4,565 | $15,000 | $10,000 – $25,000 | 0% | 3% |
| Harris | 3,963 | $15,000 | $10,000 – $25,000 | 1% | 1% |
| Bexar | 3,889 | $15,000 | $10,000 – $20,000 | 0% | 10% |
| Travis | 3,362 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | 5% | 7% |
Showing the 5 counties with the most records; use the selector for any county with at least 30. Per-charge bond settings on original magistrations, from Texas OCA bail reporting under SB 6. Bail is set case by case — these are statistics, not a prediction.
Charged with ASSAULT FAM/HOUSE MEM IMPEDE BREATH/CIRCULAT?
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Find a Defense AttorneyBail data: Texas Office of Court Administration magistration reports (SB 6), Apr 2022 – Jun 2025. Court outcomes: county district and county clerk records. Statistics describe past cases and are not legal advice; every case is decided on its own facts.