Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9 · Chapter 9.69
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9.69.100 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section WA-LEGapp.leg.wa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
(1) A person who witnesses the actual commission of:
(a) A violent offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030 or preparations for the commission of such an offense;
(b) A sexual offense against a child or an attempt to commit such a sexual offense; or
(c) An assault of a child that appears reasonably likely to cause substantial bodily harm to the child,
shall as soon as reasonably possible notify the prosecuting attorney, law enforcement, medical assistance, or other public officials.
(2) This section shall not be construed to affect privileged relationships as provided by law.
(3) The duty to notify a person or agency under this section is met if a person notifies or attempts to provide such notice by telephone or any other means as soon as reasonably possible.
(4) Failure to report as required by subsection (1) of this section is a gross misdemeanor. However, a person is not required to report under this section where that person has a reasonable belief that making such a report would place that person or another family or household member in danger of immediate physical harm.
[ 1987 c 503 s 18; 1985 c 443 s 21; 1970 ex.s. c 49 s 8.]

Notes:

Effective date—1987 c 503: See RCW 74.14B.902.
Severability—Effective date—1985 c 443: See notes following RCW 7.69.010.
Severability—1970 ex.s. c 49: "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." [ 1970 ex.s. c 49 s 9.]
Abuse of children: Chapter 26.44 RCW.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases, 1979–2012 · leading case: State v. Sublett, 292 P.3d 715 (Wash. 2012).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
State v. Sublett, 292 P.3d 715 (Wash. 2012). · cites it 4× “” Olsen relies on RCW 9.69.100, which creates a duty to report a violent offense, and criminalizes the failure to do so as a gross misdemeanor.”
State v. Jackson, 976 P.2d 1229 (Wash. 1999). · cites it 4× “But more important for this case, were they also not each complicit in these monstrous crimes? Can one be anything but guiltily complicit when one observes such atrocities and fails to intervene or seek help? Our accomplice liability statute, expressly in the words of section…”
State v. Sublett, 231 P.3d 231 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “Olsen contends that, based on this testimony, a jury could find him guilty of second degree manslaughter based on his failure to summon aid under RCW 9.69.100. [8] But even viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to Olsen, he did not demonstrate that he was entitled to…”
Gardner v. Loomis Armored, Inc., 913 P.2d 377 (Wash. 1996). “, RCW 9.69.100 (requiring witnesses of violent crimes to report the crime to officials).”
Pope v. State, 396 A.2d 1054 (Md. 1979). “1973); Wash. Rev. Code § 9.69.100 (1976). Two states had such statutes, see Me.”
Est. of Cilley v. Lane, 2009 ME 133 (Me. 2009). “22 (LEXIS through Nov. 10, 2009 legislation); R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-3.”
State v. Jackson, 976 P.2d 1229 (Wash. 1999). · cites it 4× “But more important for this case, were they also not each complicit in these monstrous crimes? Can one be anything but guilty complicit when one observes such atrocities and fails to intervene or seek help? Our accomplice liability statute, expressly in the words of section…”
State v. Carney, 142 Wash. App. 197 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “(4) Failure to report as required by subsection (1) of this section is a gross misdemeanor.”
State v. Carney, 174 P.3d 142 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “(4) Failure to report as required by subsection (1) of this section is a gross misdemeanor.”
State v. Lynn, 156 Wash. App. 160 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “Olsen contends that, based on this testimony, a jury could find him guilty of second degree manslaughter based on his failure to summon aid under RCW 9.69.100. 8 But even viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to Olsen, he did not demonstrate that he was entitled to the…”
Gardner v. Loomis Armored Inc., 913 P.2d 377 (Wash. 1996). “, RCW 9.69.100 (requiring witnesses of violent crimes to report the crime to officials).”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.69.100(1)(c) — 1 case
State v. Jackson, 976 P.2d 1229 (Wash. 1999). “But more important for this case, were they also not each complicit in these monstrous crimes? Can one be anything but guilty complicit when one observes such atrocities and fails to intervene or seek help? Our accomplice liability statute, expressly in the words of section…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.69.100(l)(c) — 1 case
State v. Jackson, 976 P.2d 1229 (Wash. 1999). “But more important for this case, were they also not each complicit in these monstrous crimes? Can one be anything but guiltily complicit when one observes such atrocities and fails to intervene or seek help? Our accomplice liability statute, expressly in the words of section…”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.