§ 42A.053. JUDGE-ORDERED COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.

(a) A judge, in the best interest of justice, the public, and the defendant, after conviction or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, may:

(1) suspend the imposition of the sentence and place the defendant on community supervision; or

(2) impose a fine applicable to the offense and place the defendant on community supervision.

(b) A judge may not deny community supervision to a defendant based solely on the defendant's inability to speak, read, write, hear, or understand English.

(c) A defendant is not eligible for community supervision under this article if the defendant is sentenced to serve:

(1) a term of imprisonment that exceeds 10 years; or

(2) a term of confinement under Section 12.35, Penal Code.

(d) In a felony case:

(1) the minimum period of community supervision is the same as the minimum term of imprisonment applicable to the offense; and

(2) the maximum period of community supervision is:

(A) 10 years, for a felony other than a third degree felony described by Paragraph (B); and

(B) five years, for any of the following third degree felonies:

(i) a third degree felony under Title 7, Penal Code; and

(ii) a third degree felony under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code.

(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (d), the minimum period of community supervision under this article for a felony described by Article 42A.453(b) is five years.

(f) The maximum period of community supervision in a misdemeanor case is two years.

(g) Notwithstanding Subsection (d)(2) or (f), a judge may extend the maximum period of community supervision in the manner provided by Article 42A.753 or 42A.757.