At what age does a person become criminally responsible in Texas?

In Texas, the concept of criminal responsibility is tied to the age of the individual at the time the offense was committed. A person is deemed criminally responsible for their actions when they reach the age of 17, but there are specific provisions regarding younger individuals.

While children under the age of 10 are not criminally responsible for their actions, at the age of 10, they can be held accountable under certain circumstances, especially if they commit conduct that would be defined as delinquent conduct rather than a criminal offense. This means that children who are 10 years old can face juvenile proceedings for certain actions, indicating a threshold of accountability at that age.

As such, 10 is the age at which the legal system begins to recognize the potential for delinquency, making 10 years old the correct answer regarding when a person becomes criminally responsible under Texas law. In contrast, being 12 or any of the other provided ages does not align with the specific legal delineation set forth by Texas statutes regarding juvenile processing and accountability.