Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
RCW 9.94A.030
Reviser's note: *(1) RCW 9.96.060 was amended by 2023 sp.s. c 1 s 11, changing subsection (7)(c) to subsection (8)(c).
**(2) RCW 72.66.060 and 72.65.070 were repealed by 2001 c 264 s 7. Cf. 2001 c 264 s 8.
***(3) RCW 9.94A.5011 expired August 1, 2014.
****(4) RCW 26.50.010 was repealed by 2021 c 215 s 170, effective July 1, 2022.
Expiration date- 2022 c 231 s s 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 17: "Sections 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 17 of this act expire July 1, 2022." [2022 c 231 s 18.]
Effective date- 2022 c 231 s s 8, 9, 11, 13, and 15: See note following RCW 7.105.010.
Effective date- 2022 c 268; 2021 c 215 : See note following RCW 7.105.900.
Short title- 2020 c 296 : "This act may be known and cited as the Tiffany Hill act." [2020 c 296 s 1.]
Effective date- 2020 c 252 : See note following RCW 9.94A.660.
Short title- 2019 c 331 : See note following RCW 9.94A.637.
Finding-Conflict with federal requirements- 2016 c 81 : See notes following RCW 9.97.010.
Application-Recalculation of community custody terms-2011 1st sp.s. c 40: See note following RCW 9.94A.501.
Effective date-2011 1st sp.s. c 40 ss 1-9, 42: See note following RCW 9.94A.501.
Intent- 2010 c 274 : See note following RCW 10.31.100.
Application- 2010 c 267 : See note following RCW 9A.44.128.
Expiration date- 2009 c 375 s s 1, 3, and 13: See note following RCW 9.94A.501.
Application- 2009 c 375 : See note following RCW 9.94A.501.
Effective date- 2009 c 28 : See note following RCW 2.24.040.
Severability-Part headings, subheadings not law-2008 c 276: See notes following RCW 36.28A.200.
Intent-Application-Application of repealers-Effective date-2008 c 231: See notes following RCW 9.94A.701.
Severability-2008 c 231: See note following RCW 9.94A.500.
Delayed effective date-2008 c 230 ss 1-3: See note following RCW 9A.44.130.
Short title-2008 c 7: "This act may be known and cited as the Chelsea Harrison act." [ 2008 c 7 s 2.]
Effective date-2006 c 139 s 5: "Section 5 of this act takes effect July 1, 2006." [ 2006 c 139 s 7.]
Expiration date-2006 c 139 s 4: "Section 4 of this act expires July 1, 2006." [ 2006 c 139 s 6.]
Effective date-2006 c 124: "Except for section 2 of this act, this act takes effect July 1, 2006." [ 2006 c 124 s 5.]
Effective date-2006 c 122 ss 5 and 7: See note following RCW 9.94A.507.
Expiration date-2006 c 122 ss 4 and 6: See note following RCW 9.94A.507.
Effective date-2006 c 122 ss 1-4 and 6: See note following RCW 9.94A.836.
Effective date-2006 c 73: See note following RCW 46.61.502.
Intent-Effective date-2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.
Effective date-2002 c 175: See note following RCW 7.80.130.
Finding-2002 c 107: "The legislature considers the majority opinions in State v. Cruz, 139 Wn.2d 186 (1999), and State v. Smith, Cause No. 70683-2 (September 6, 2001), to be wrongly decided, since neither properly interpreted legislative intent. When the legislature enacted the sentencing reform act, chapter 9.94A RCW, and each time the legislature has amended the act, the legislature intended that an offender's criminal history and offender score be determined using the statutory provisions that were in effect on the day the current offense was committed.
Although certain prior convictions previously were not counted in the offender score or included in the criminal history pursuant to former versions of RCW 9.94A.525, or RCW 9.94A.030, those prior convictions need not be "revived" because they were never vacated. As noted in the minority opinions in Cruz and Smith, such application of the law does not involve retroactive application or violate ex postfacto prohibitions. Additionally, the Washington state supreme court has repeatedly held in the past that the provisions of the sentencing reform act act upon and punish only current conduct; the sentencing reform act does not act upon or alter the punishment for prior convictions. See In re Personal Restraint Petition of Williams, 111 Wn.2d 353, (1988). The legislature has never intended to create in an offender a vested right with respect to whether a prior conviction is excluded when calculating an offender score or with respect to how a prior conviction is counted in the offender score for a current offense." [ 2002 c 107 s 1.]
Application-2002 c 107: "RCW 9.94A.030(13) (b) and (c) and 9.94A.525(18) apply only to current offenses committed on or after June 13, 2002. No offender who committed his or her current offense prior to June 13, 2002, may be subject to resentencing as a result of this act." [ 2002 c 107 s 4.]
Application-2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 ss 301-363: "(1) Sections 301 through 363 of this act shall not affect the validity of any sentence imposed under any other law for any offense committed before, on, or after September 1, 2001.
(2) Sections 301 through 363 of this act shall apply to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2001." [ 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 s 503.]
Intent-Severability-Effective dates-2001 2nd sp.s. c 12: See notes following RCW 71.09.250.
Effective dates-2001 c 287: See note following RCW 9A.76.115.
Effective date-2001 c 95: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2001." [ 2001 c 95 s 3.]
Finding-Intent-2001 c 7: "The legislature finds that an ambiguity may exist regarding whether out-of-state convictions or convictions under prior Washington law, for sex offenses that are comparable to current Washington offenses, count when determining whether an offender is a persistent offender. This act is intended to clarify the legislature's intent that out-of-state convictions for comparable sex offenses and prior Washington convictions for comparable sex offenses shall be used to determine whether an offender meets the definition of a persistent offender." [ 2001 c 7 s 1.]
Technical correction bill-2000 c 28: See note following RCW 9.94A.015.
Severability-1999 c 197: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1999 c 197 s 14.]
Construction-Short title-1999 c 196: See RCW 72.09.904 and 72.09.905.
Severability-1999 c 196: See note following RCW 9.94A.010.
Application-Effective date-Severability-1998 c 290: See notes following RCW 69.50.401.
Finding-Evaluation-Report-1997 c 338: See note following RCW 13.40.0357.
Severability-Effective dates-1997 c 338: See notes following RCW 5.60.060.
Finding-1996 c 275: See note following RCW 9.94A.505.
Application-1996 c 275 ss 1-5: See note following RCW 9.94A.505.
Purpose-1995 c 268: "In order to eliminate a potential ambiguity over the scope of the term "sex offense," this act clarifies that for general purposes the definition of "sex offense" does not include any misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors. For purposes of the registration of sex offenders pursuant to RCW 9A.44.130, however, the definition of "sex offense" is expanded to include those gross misdemeanors that constitute attempts, conspiracies, and solicitations to commit class C felonies." [ 1995 c 268 s 1.]
Effective date-1995 c 108: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately [April 19, 1995]." [ 1995 c 108 s 6.]
Finding-Intent-1994 c 261: See note following RCW 16.52.011.
Severability-Short title-Captions-1994 c 1: See notes following RCW 9.94A.555.
Severability-Effective date-1993 c 338: See notes following RCW 72.09.400.
Finding-Intent-1993 c 251: See note following RCW 38.52.430.
Effective date-1991 c 348: See note following RCW 46.61.520.
Effective date-Application-1990 c 3 ss 601-605: See note following RCW 9.94A.835.
Purpose-1989 c 252: "The purpose of this act is to create a system that: (1) Assists the courts in sentencing felony offenders regarding the offenders' legal financial obligations; (2) holds offenders accountable to victims, counties, cities, the state, municipalities, and society for the assessed costs associated with their crimes; and (3) provides remedies for an individual or other entities to recoup or at least defray a portion of the loss associated with the costs of felonious behavior." [ 1989 c 252 s 1.]
Prospective application-1989 c 252: "Except for sections 18, 22, 23, and 24 of this act, this act applies prospectively only and not retrospectively. It applies only to offenses committed on or after the effective date of this act." [ 1989 c 252 s 27.]
Effective dates-1989 c 252: "(1) Sections 1 through 17, 19 through 21, 25, 26, and 28 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1990 unless otherwise directed by law.
(2) Sections 18, 22, 23, and 24 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1989." [ 1989 c 252 s 30.]
Severability-1989 c 252: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1989 c 252 s 31.]
Application-1988 c 157: "This act applies to crimes committed after July 1, 1988." [ 1988 c 157 s 7.]
Effective date-1988 c 153: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1988." [ 1988 c 153 s 16.]
Application of increased sanctions-1988 c 153: "Increased sanctions authorized by this act are applicable only to those persons committing offenses after July 1, 1988." [ 1988 c 153 s 15.]
Effective date-Savings-Application-1988 c 145: See notes following RCW 9A.44.010.
Severability-1987 c 458: See note following RCW 48.21.160.
Severability-1986 c 257: See note following RCW 9A.56.010.
Effective date-1986 c 257 ss 17-35: "Sections 17 through 35 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1986." [ 1986 c 257 s 38.]
Effective dates-1984 c 209: "Sections 1 through 26 of this act shall take effect on July 1, 1984, and sections 27 through 32 of this act shall take effect June 30, 1984." [ 1984 c 209 s 33.]
Effective date-1983 c 163: See note following RCW 9.94A.505.
State preemption of criminal street gang definitions: Chapter 9.101 RCW.