What does 3g mean?

Sometimes you’ll hear defendants and their lawyers and prosecutors talk about “3g offenses.” They’re referring to Sec. 3g of Article 42.12 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, captioned Limitation on Judge Ordered Community Supervision. A judge cannot order probation to a defendant adjudged guilty of numerous serious offenses, including murder, indecency with a child, aggravated kidnapping, sexual assault, robbery, several drug offenses, and any crime where a deadly weapon was used or exhibited.

An inmate convicted of a 3g offense, without consideration for good conduct time, must serve at least one-half of his sentence, or 30 years, whichever is less. That’s in the Government Code, Sec. 508.145.

Example: Joe Defendant is convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and is sentenced to 60 years. He will have to serve 30 years before he can be considered for parole.