IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATOR/STUDENTTexas Penal Code (PC) § 21.12(a)
“IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATOR/STUDENT” stands for Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student, a second-degree felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 21.12(a). It is punishable by 2 to 20 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 “IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATOR/STUDENT” mean?
“IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATOR/STUDENT” stands for Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student, a second-degree felony under Texas PC § 21.12(a).
Texas Penal Code § 21.12 defines improper relationship between educator and student. An employee of a public or private primary or secondary school commits the offense by engaging in sexual contact, sexual intercourse, or deviate sexual intercourse with a person enrolled at the school where the employee works; by an employee holding a position described by the Texas Education Code — such as teacher, counselor, librarian, or school nurse — engaging in that conduct with a person the employee knows is enrolled at another primary or secondary school or is a student participant in a school-sponsored educational activity to whom the employee provides education services; or by engaging in online-solicitation conduct described by Texas Penal Code § 33.021 with such a student. The student's age is not an element — the statute applies even to adult students. The offense is a second-degree felony.
What usually happens to a IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATOR/STUDENT charge?
22% ended without a conviction, 44% in deferred adjudication and 30% in a conviction.
How 23 resolved IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATOR/STUDENT charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 10 counties (Bastrop, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Williamson):
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (1) 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 IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATOR/STUDENT case take to resolve?
Typically about 12 months: half of resolved cases closed within 379 days of filing.
Across 23 resolved IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATOR/STUDENT charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 379 days. The middle half took between 278 and 671 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATOR/STUDENT 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 Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student in Texas?
2 to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second-degree felony | 2 to 20 years in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.33 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATOR/STUDENT in Texas?
The median bail is $25,000, and 1% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 797 Texas bail settings for this charge (5 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $25,000 (middle half: $10,000 – $50,000). 1% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 20 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (111 records), the median was $35,000 and 2% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso | 230 | $20,000 | $20,000 – $20,000 | 2% | 0% |
| Nueces | 119 | $7,500 | $7,500 – $7,500 | 0% | 0% |
| Cass | 75 | $10,000 | $10,000 – $25,000 | 0% | 1% |
| Nacogdoches | 36 | $50,000 | $25,000 – $100,000 | 0% | 0% |
| Tarrant | 31 | $20,000 | $20,000 – $20,000 | 0% | 0% |
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 IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATOR/STUDENT?
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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.