Criminal penalties in Washington
Checked in October 2026 against the Revised Code of Washington.
These are statutory ranges for a first offence, from the least to the most the law allows. A court decides the actual sentence in each case. Not legal advice.
How Washington sets penalties
- Washington sorts felonies into Class A, B and C (RCW 9A.20.021). The statute sets only the maximum: life for Class A, 10 years for Class B and 5 years for Class C, with fines of up to $50,000, $20,000 and $10,000.
- Within that maximum, the actual sentence usually falls in a 'standard range' set by sentencing guidelines, which turn on the seriousness of the offence and the person's criminal history (chapter 9.94A RCW). The ranges shown here are the legal maximum, not the guideline range.
- A gross misdemeanor carries up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. A misdemeanor carries up to 90 days and a fine of up to $1,000.
Death penalty: Washington has no death penalty. Aggravated first-degree murder is punished by life imprisonment without the possibility of release or parole (RCW 10.95.030).
First-degree murder
Up to life imprisonment; life without release for aggravated murder
Murder in the first degree (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment
- Fine
- Fine of up to $50,000
Aggravated first-degree murder (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment without the possibility of release or parole
Life imprisonment without the possibility of release or parole.
Second-degree murder
Up to life imprisonment
Murder in the second degree (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment
- Fine
- Fine of up to $50,000
Voluntary manslaughter
Up to 10 years (second degree) up to life (first degree)
Manslaughter in the second degree (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of up to $20,000
Manslaughter in the first degree (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment
- Fine
- Fine of up to $50,000
Washington has no manslaughter offence based on heat of passion. First-degree manslaughter is a reckless killing, and second-degree manslaughter is a killing by criminal negligence.
Robbery
Up to 10 years (second degree) up to life (first degree)
Robbery in the second degree (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of up to $20,000
Robbery in the first degree (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment
- Fine
- Fine of up to $50,000
Burglary
Up to 10 years (second degree) up to life (first degree)
Burglary in the second degree (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of up to $20,000
Residential burglary (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of up to $20,000
Burglary in the first degree (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment
- Fine
- Fine of up to $50,000
Arson
Up to 364 days (reckless burning, second degree) up to life (first degree)
Reckless burning in the second degree (Gross misdemeanor)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 364 days in jail
- Fine
- Fine of up to $5,000
Reckless burning in the first degree (Class C felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 5 years
- Fine
- Fine of up to $10,000
Arson in the second degree (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of up to $20,000
Arson in the first degree (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment
- Fine
- Fine of up to $50,000
Aggravated assault
Up to 5 years (third degree) up to life (first degree)
Assault in the third degree (Class C felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 5 years
- Fine
- Fine of up to $10,000
Assault in the second degree (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of up to $20,000
A Class A felony if there is a finding of sexual motivation.
Assault in the first degree (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment
- Fine
- Fine of up to $50,000
Washington has no offence called 'aggravated assault'. Its degrees of assault do the same work: third, second and first degree.
Rape and sexual assault
Up to 5 years (third degree) up to life (first and second degree)
Rape in the third degree (Class C felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 5 years
- Fine
- Fine of up to $10,000
Rape in the second degree (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment
- Fine
- Fine of up to $50,000
Rape in the first degree (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment
- Fine
- Fine of up to $50,000
Kidnapping
Up to 10 years (second degree) up to life (first degree)
Kidnapping in the second degree (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of up to $20,000
A Class A felony if there is a finding of sexual motivation.
Kidnapping in the first degree (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment
- Fine
- Fine of up to $50,000
Embezzlement
Up to 364 days (third-degree theft) up to 10 years (first-degree theft)
Theft in the third degree (Gross misdemeanor)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 364 days in jail
- Fine
- Fine of up to $5,000
Theft in the second degree (Class C felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 5 years
- Fine
- Fine of up to $10,000
Theft in the first degree (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of up to $20,000
Washington treats embezzlement as theft (RCW 9A.56.010). The degree depends on the value of the property taken.
Forgery
Up to 5 years
Forgery (Class C felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 5 years
- Fine
- Fine of up to $10,000
Drunk driving, first offence
At least 24 hours in jail, up to 364 days, and a fine of $350 to $5,000
Driving under the influence, first offence (Gross misdemeanor)
- Least
- At least 24 consecutive hours in jail (the court may order at least 15 days of electronic home monitoring instead)
- Most
- Up to 364 days in jail
- Fine
- Fine of $350 to $5,000
Where the alcohol concentration is 0.15 or more, or the person refuses the test, the minimum jail term is 48 hours and the minimum fine is higher. Other penalties, such as licence revocation, also follow.
Compare with: Iowa, Arizona, California, New York, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Maryland.
