Continuous Violence Against the Family is designated as which offense level?

• A. 1st Degree Felony
• B. 3DF
• C. State Jail Felony
• D. Class A Misdemeanor

Answer: (B)

Continuous Violence Against the Family is defined by a pattern of behavior rather than a single act. Under Texas law, if a person commits two or more acts of family violence within a 12-month period, and at least one of those acts is a domestic violence offense, the conduct is escalated to a third‑degree felony. This designation is often abbreviated as 3DF. The reason this is the best answer is that the statute specifically creates a higher level of offense based on repetition within a year, not a first‑degree felony, a state jail felony, or a Class A misdemeanor. The penalties for this third‑degree felony are 2 to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines, reflecting the increased seriousness due to repeated violence.