The church sign discussion got me digging in DPS data again, so I wanted to share with everyone that data is freely available in two places: the DPS Crime Records Reports and Statistical Information page has a wealth of data, with the Criminal History Arrest and Conviction Statistics section containing the last three years' worth of five-year look back reports on arrests and on convictions. The data is available by offense and by county. If you look at the by county list, that includes the relevant PC offense cited, so that's helpful. For instance, I mentioned in the church sign thread that since 2017 there have been eight (8) LTC arrests across Texas. There are one each in Cameron, Hidalgo, Liberty, McLenna, Nueces, and Tarrant county, with two in Jefferson county. None of those arrests resulted in convictions. That's where the second, freely available, report comes into play.
The Handgun Licensing section of DPS Regulatory Services Division is required by law to provide annual, calendar year reports on conviction rates of license holders. This report is one of four reports on RSD's Reports and Statistics page. While the arrests and conviction stats provide much richer data sets, there's enough in the Conviction Rates report to be informative, and you can keep your own archive if you like. Currently there are reports covering 2016 thru 2022. Next year, a 2023 report will be added and the 2016 report will be archived. Due to some disparities in reporting, collecting, and publishing timelines, it's important to verify the data in the various reports to make sure you're using same year to same year information. For instance the 2023 arrests and 2023 convictions reports contain data for the five year period covering 2017-2021.
In 2021, there were a total of 124,280 Total Convictions in Texas. "Total Convictions in Texas" includes all convictions reported to the state criminal history repository for the offense during the calendar year for individuals age 21 or over. Of those, there were 176 Convictions of LTC Holders, which includes any conviction reported to the Handgun Licensing Program for which the convicted individual held a license to carry a handgun at the time the offense was committed, for a rate of 0.1416%.
Numerically, the second most popular conviction of a license holder in 2021 was for UCW at 22 convictions out of 6,924 total convictions, note that UCW is TPC 46 and does not include 30.05/.06/.07 offenses. I've include all the counties with double-digit convictions for UCW below:
In both counties, TPC 46.02(a) are the most often convicted offense.
Going to RSD's Reports and Statistics page, the Conviction Rates for Handgun License Holders 2021 report covers the same period. For 2021, across all of Texas, there were 861 UCW convictions, of which less seven (7) were LTC holders. Less than 1% of convictions were of an LTC holder.
Rate wise, the highest rate of convictions for crimes committed by an LTC holder in Texas was for road-rage w/discharge of a weapon. There were 7 total conviction with 1 LTC holder, for a rate of 14%.
Use the data as you wish, but understand there are more LTC holders convicted for indecent sexual contact with a child in just one year (6, 2021) than for violating 30.06 or 30.07 across the previous five year period (0, 2017-2021).
The Handgun Licensing section of DPS Regulatory Services Division is required by law to provide annual, calendar year reports on conviction rates of license holders. This report is one of four reports on RSD's Reports and Statistics page. While the arrests and conviction stats provide much richer data sets, there's enough in the Conviction Rates report to be informative, and you can keep your own archive if you like. Currently there are reports covering 2016 thru 2022. Next year, a 2023 report will be added and the 2016 report will be archived. Due to some disparities in reporting, collecting, and publishing timelines, it's important to verify the data in the various reports to make sure you're using same year to same year information. For instance the 2023 arrests and 2023 convictions reports contain data for the five year period covering 2017-2021.
In 2021, there were a total of 124,280 Total Convictions in Texas. "Total Convictions in Texas" includes all convictions reported to the state criminal history repository for the offense during the calendar year for individuals age 21 or over. Of those, there were 176 Convictions of LTC Holders, which includes any conviction reported to the Handgun Licensing Program for which the convicted individual held a license to carry a handgun at the time the offense was committed, for a rate of 0.1416%.
Numerically, the second most popular conviction of a license holder in 2021 was for UCW at 22 convictions out of 6,924 total convictions, note that UCW is TPC 46 and does not include 30.05/.06/.07 offenses. I've include all the counties with double-digit convictions for UCW below:
County Conviction Records: 2017 - 2021 (note I've deleted the 2017-2020 data for simplicity) | ||||
County | Offense | Statute | Citation | 2021 |
BEXAR | UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPON | PC | 46.02(a) | 372 |
HARRIS | UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPON | PC | 46.02(a) | 144 |
BRAZOS | UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPON | PC | 46.02(a) | 44 |
ANGELINA | UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPON | PC | 46.02(a) | 36 |
TAYLOR | UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPON | PC | 46.02(a) | 26 |
GRAYSON | UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPON | PC | 46.02(a) | 11 |
POTTER | UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPON | PC | 46.02(a) | 10 |
In both counties, TPC 46.02(a) are the most often convicted offense.
Sec. 46.02. UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPONS.
(a) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun;(2) at the time of the offense:(A) is younger than 21 years of age; or(B) has been convicted of an offense under Section 22.01(a)(1), 22.05, 22.07, or 42.01(a)(7) or (8) committed in the five-year period preceding the date the instant offense was committed; and(3) is not:(A) on the person's own premises or premises under the person's control; or(B) inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle or watercraft that is owned by the person or under the person's control.
Going to RSD's Reports and Statistics page, the Conviction Rates for Handgun License Holders 2021 report covers the same period. For 2021, across all of Texas, there were 861 UCW convictions, of which less seven (7) were LTC holders. Less than 1% of convictions were of an LTC holder.
Rate wise, the highest rate of convictions for crimes committed by an LTC holder in Texas was for road-rage w/discharge of a weapon. There were 7 total conviction with 1 LTC holder, for a rate of 14%.
Use the data as you wish, but understand there are more LTC holders convicted for indecent sexual contact with a child in just one year (6, 2021) than for violating 30.06 or 30.07 across the previous five year period (0, 2017-2021).