Coercing Gang Membership - Texas Gang Investigators Association

Go to content

Coercing Gang Membership

Penal Code

Sec. 71.022. Coercing, Inducing, or Soliciting Membership in a Criminal Street Gang

(a) A person commits an offense if
the person knowingly causes, enables, encourages, recruits, or solicits another person to become a member of a criminal street gang which, as a condition of initiation, admission, membership, or continued membership, requires the commission of any conduct which constitutes an offense punishable as a Class A misdemeanor or a felony.

(a-1) A person
commits an offense if, with intent to coerce, induce, or solicit a child to actively participate in the activities of a criminal street gang, the person:

(1) threatens the child or a member of the child's family with imminent bodily injury; or


(2) causes bodily injury to the child or a member of the child's family.


(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an offense under this section is a felony of the third degree
.

(c) A second or subsequent offense under this section is a
felony of the second degree.

(d) In this section:

(1) "Child" means an individual younger than 17 years of age.


(2) "Family" has the meaning assigned by Section 71.003, Family Code.

Back to content