Tex. Penal Code § 9.55
This is the official text of Tex. Penal Code § 9.55, part of Texas’s Penal Code — defines crimes and punishments in Texas.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§ 9.55. USE OF LESS-LETHAL FORCE WEAPON.
Official statutory text
(a) In this section, "less-lethal force weapon" means:
(1) any weapon, device, or munition that is designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile or multiple projectiles against a target to temporarily incapacitate the target while minimizing the risk of serious bodily injury or death;
(2) a chemical dispensing device;
(3) a device used to strike a person; or
(4) a stun gun, as defined by Section 38.14.
(b) This section applies only to a guard employed by a correctional facility or a peace officer who is engaged in the discharge of the guard's or officer's official duties.
(c) A person to whom this section applies is justified in using force with a less-lethal force weapon against another when and to the degree the person reasonably believes the force was necessary to accomplish the person's official duties as a guard or officer and if the person's use of the weapon is in substantial compliance with the person's training.
(1) any weapon, device, or munition that is designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile or multiple projectiles against a target to temporarily incapacitate the target while minimizing the risk of serious bodily injury or death;
(2) a chemical dispensing device;
(3) a device used to strike a person; or
(4) a stun gun, as defined by Section 38.14.
(b) This section applies only to a guard employed by a correctional facility or a peace officer who is engaged in the discharge of the guard's or officer's official duties.
(c) A person to whom this section applies is justified in using force with a less-lethal force weapon against another when and to the degree the person reasonably believes the force was necessary to accomplish the person's official duties as a guard or officer and if the person's use of the weapon is in substantial compliance with the person's training.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Dealing with a criminal defense matter in Texas?
See all Texas Criminal Defense lawyers
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.