Sec. 4. (a) In the penalty phase of the trial of a felony case in which the punishment is to be assessed by the jury rather than the court, if the offense of which the jury has found the defendant guilty is an offense under Section 71.02, Penal Code, other than an offense punishable as a state jail felony under that section, an offense under Section 71.023, Penal Code, or an offense listed in Article 42A.054(a), or if the judgment contains an affirmative finding under Article 42A.054(c) or (d), unless the defendant has been convicted of an offense under Section 21.02, Penal Code, an offense under Section 22.021, Penal Code, that is punishable under Subsection (f) of that section, or a capital felony, the court shall charge the jury in writing as follows:

"The length of time for which a defendant is imprisoned may be reduced by the award of parole.

"Under the law applicable in this case, if the defendant is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, the defendant will not become eligible for parole until the actual time served equals one-half of the sentence imposed or 30 years, whichever is less. If the defendant is sentenced to a term of less than four years, the defendant must serve at least two years before the defendant is eligible for parole. Eligibility for parole does not guarantee that parole will be granted.

"It cannot accurately be predicted how the parole law might be applied to this defendant if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, because the application of that law will depend on decisions made by parole authorities.

"You may consider the existence of the parole law. You are not to consider the manner in which the parole law may be applied to this particular defendant."

(b) In the penalty phase of the trial of a felony case in which the punishment is to be assessed by the jury rather than the court, if the offense is punishable as a felony of the first degree, if a prior conviction has been alleged for enhancement of punishment as provided by Section 12.42(b), (c)(1) or (2), or (d), Penal Code, or if the offense is a felony not designated as a capital felony or a felony of the first, second, or third degree and the maximum term of imprisonment that may be imposed for the offense is longer than 60 years, unless the offense of which the jury has found the defendant guilty is an offense that is punishable under Section 21.02(h), Penal Code, or is listed in Article 42A.054(a) or the judgment contains an affirmative finding under Article 42A.054(c) or (d), the court shall charge the jury in writing as follows:

"The length of time for which a defendant is imprisoned may be reduced by the award of parole.

"Under the law applicable in this case, the defendant, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, may earn early parole eligibility through the award of good conduct time. Prison authorities may award good conduct time to a prisoner who exhibits good behavior, diligence in carrying out prison work assignments, and attempts at rehabilitation. If a prisoner engages in misconduct, prison authorities may also take away all or part of any good conduct time earned by the prisoner.

"Under the law applicable in this case, if the defendant is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, the defendant will not become eligible for parole until the actual time served plus any good conduct time earned equals one-fourth of the sentence imposed or 15 years, whichever is less. Eligibility for parole does not guarantee that parole will be granted.

"It cannot accurately be predicted how the parole law and good conduct time might be applied to this defendant if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, because the application of these laws will depend on decisions made by prison and parole authorities.

"You may consider the existence of the parole law and good conduct time. However, you are not to consider the extent to which good conduct time may be awarded to or forfeited by this particular defendant. You are not to consider the manner in which the parole law may be applied to this particular defendant."

(c) In the penalty phase of the trial of a felony case in which the punishment is to be assessed by the jury rather than the court, if the offense is punishable as a felony of the second or third degree, if a prior conviction has been alleged for enhancement as provided by Section 12.42(a), Penal Code, or if the offense is a felony not designated as a capital felony or a felony of the first, second, or third degree and the maximum term of imprisonment that may be imposed for the offense is 60 years or less, unless the offense of which the jury has found the defendant guilty is listed in Article 42A.054(a) or the judgment contains an affirmative finding under Article 42A.054(c) or (d), the court shall charge the jury in writing as follows:

"The length of time for which a defendant is imprisoned may be reduced by the award of parole.

"Under the law applicable in this case, the defendant, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, may earn early parole eligibility through the award of good conduct time. Prison authorities may award good conduct time to a prisoner who exhibits good behavior, diligence in carrying out prison work assignments, and attempts at rehabilitation. If a prisoner engages in misconduct, prison authorities may also take away all or part of any good conduct time earned by the prisoner.

"Under the law applicable in this case, if the defendant is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, the defendant will not become eligible for parole until the actual time served plus any good conduct time earned equals one-fourth of the sentence imposed. Eligibility for parole does not guarantee that parole will be granted.

"It cannot accurately be predicted how the parole law and good conduct time might be applied to this defendant if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, because the application of these laws will depend on decisions made by prison and parole authorities.

"You may consider the existence of the parole law and good conduct time. However, you are not to consider the extent to which good conduct time may be awarded to or forfeited by this particular defendant. You are not to consider the manner in which the parole law may be applied to this particular defendant."

(d) This section does not permit the introduction of evidence on the operation of parole and good conduct time laws.

Acts 1965, 59th Leg., vol. 2, p. 317, ch. 722. Amended by Acts 1967, 60th Leg., p. 1739, ch. 659, Sec. 22, eff. Aug. 28, 1967; Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 971, ch. 399, Sec. 2(A), eff. Jan. 1, 1974; Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 1126, ch. 426, art. 3, Sec. 2, eff. June 14, 1973.

Sec. 3(d) amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 2466, ch. 639, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Sec. 2(b) amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 291, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985; Sec. 3(a) amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 685, Sec. 8(b), eff. Aug. 26, 1985; Sec. 4 added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985; Sec. 2(b) amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 179, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 31, 1987; Sec. 3(a) amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 385, Sec. 19, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 386, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Sec. 4 amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 66, Sec. 1, eff. May 6, 1987; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 1101, Sec. 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 103, Sec. 1; Sec. 3(a) amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 785, Sec. 4.04, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Sec. 3(f) added by Acts 1990, 71st Leg., 6th C.S., ch. 25, Sec. 30, eff. June 18, 1990; Sec. 3(a) amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 5.05, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Sec. 3(d) amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 5.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Sec. 3(g) added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 5.06, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Sec. 4 amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 5.02, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Sec. 3(a) amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 262, Sec. 82, eff. Jan. 1, 1996; Sec. 3(a) amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1086, Sec. 31, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Sec. 3(h) added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 144, Sec. 2, eff. May 20, 1997; Sec. 3(h) added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1086, Sec. 31, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; relettered as Sec. 3(i) by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 19.01(7), eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Sec. 3(a) amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 585, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 660 (H.B. 3265), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 660 (H.B. 3265), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 728 (H.B. 2018), Sec. 4.003, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 593 (H.B. 8), Sec. 3.14, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 593 (H.B. 8), Sec. 3.15, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 620 (S.B. 688), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1325 (S.B. 549), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 770 (H.B. 2299), Sec. 2.07, eff. January 1, 2017.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 770 (H.B. 2299), Sec. 2.08, eff. January 1, 2017.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 260 (H.B. 1279), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 381 (H.B. 2894), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2019.