Title 9A — Title 9A WASHINGTON CRIMINAL CODE
32 chapters · 401 sections in this title.
RCW 9A.04.010 Title, effective date, application, severability, captions.
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(1) This title shall be known and may be cited as the Washington Criminal Code and shall become effective on July 1, 1976.(2) The provisions of this title shall apply to any offense committed on or after July 1, 1976, which is defined in this title or the general statutes, unless…
RCW 9A.04.020 Purposes—Principles of construction.
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(1) The general purposes of the provisions governing the definition of offenses are:(a) To forbid and prevent conduct that inflicts or threatens substantial harm to individual or public interests;(b) To safeguard conduct that is without culpability from condemnation as criminal;(…
RCW 9A.04.030 State criminal jurisdiction.
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The following persons are liable to punishment:(1) A person who commits in the state any crime, in whole or in part.(2) A person who commits out of the state any act which, if committed within it, would be theft and is afterward found in the state with any of the stolen property.…
RCW 9A.04.040 Classes of crimes.
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(1) An offense defined by this title or by any other statute of this state, for which a sentence of imprisonment is authorized, constitutes a crime. Crimes are classified as felonies, gross misdemeanors, or misdemeanors.(2) A crime is a felony if it is so designated in this title…
RCW 9A.04.050 People capable of committing crimes—Capability of children.
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Children under the age of eight years are incapable of committing crime. Children of eight and under twelve years of age are presumed to be incapable of committing crime, but this presumption may be removed by proof that they have sufficient capacity to understand the act or negl…
RCW 9A.04.060 Common law to supplement statute.
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The provisions of the common law relating to the commission of crime and the punishment thereof, insofar as not inconsistent with the Constitution and statutes of this state, shall supplement all penal statutes of this state and all persons offending against the same shall be tri…
RCW 9A.04.070 Who amenable to criminal statutes.
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Every person, regardless of whether or not he or she is an inhabitant of this state, may be tried and punished under the laws of this state for an offense committed by him or her therein, except when such offense is cognizable exclusively in the courts of the United States.[ 2011…
RCW 9A.04.080 Limitation of actions.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5105-S.SL) ***(1) Prosecutions for criminal offenses shall not be commenced after the periods prescribed in this section.(a) The following offenses may be prosecuted at any time after their commission:(i) Murder;(ii) Homicide by abuse;(iii) Arson if a …
RCW 9A.04.090 Application of general provisions of the code.
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The provisions of chapters 9A.04 through 9A.28 RCW of this title are applicable to offenses defined by this title or another statute, unless this title or such other statute specifically provides otherwise.[ 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.04.090.]
RCW 9A.04.100 Proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
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(1) Every person charged with the commission of a crime is presumed innocent unless proved guilty. No person may be convicted of a crime unless each element of such crime is proved by competent evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.(2) When a crime has been proven against a person, …
RCW 9A.04.110 Definitions.
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In this title unless a different meaning plainly is required:(1) "Acted" includes, where relevant, omitted to act;(2) "Actor" includes, where relevant, a person failing to act;(3) "Benefit" is any gain or advantage to the beneficiary, including any gain or advantage to a third pe…