An element of most public disorder offenses is that they occur in a public place or within public view. Explain what locations constitute a "public place" within the meaning of Texas criminal law

What will be an ideal response?


Texas law takes a two-part approach to defining "public place." First, the Penal Code lists nine specific locations that fit the definition, such as streets, common areas of hospitals, and public school campuses. Second, the code presents a generic definition: "any place the public or a substantial group of the public has access." This allows the concept to be applied to much broader circumstances. It should be noted that private property may still constitute a public place. Just because an admission is charged for entry does not remove the location from being a "public place." A movie theatre is an example of this application of the definition.

Criminal Justice

You might also like to view...

In the Manhattan Bail Project, not all dependants were eligible for release on their own recognizance

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Criminal Justice

In a survey of criminologists, Radelet and Lacock found that ______ agreed that the death penalty was not a deterrent to murder.

a. 39.4% b. 48.6% c. 64.1% d. 88.2%

Criminal Justice

In which of the following cases did the Court hold that a defendant could be charged with attempting to burn down a house?

a. Rex v. Higgins (1801) b. Rex v. Scofield (1784) c. People v. Paluch (1966) d. State v. Smith (2004)

Criminal Justice

Before ruling on a motion for a change of venue, the trial judge would likely consider _____

a. the nature of pretrial publicity and the extent to which it has circulated in the community b. the time elapsing between dissemination of publicity and the date of trial c. the severity and notoriety of the offense charged d. all of these

Criminal Justice