Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9 · Chapter 9.94A
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9.94A.555 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) The people of the state of Washington find and declare that:
(a) Community protection from persistent offenders is a priority for any civilized society.
(b) Nearly fifty percent of the criminals convicted in Washington state have active prior criminal histories.
(c) Punishments for criminal offenses should be proportionate to both the seriousness of the crime and the prior criminal history.
(d) The public has the right and the responsibility to determine when to impose a life sentence.
(2) By sentencing three-time, most serious offenders to prison for life without the possibility of parole, the people intend to:
(a) Improve public safety by placing the most dangerous criminals in prison.
(b) Reduce the number of serious, repeat offenders by tougher sentencing.
(c) Set proper and simplified sentencing practices that both the victims and persistent offenders can understand.
(d) Restore public trust in our criminal justice system by directly involving the people in the process.
[ 1994 c 1 s 1 (Initiative Measure No. 593, approved November 2, 1993). Formerly RCW 9.94A.392.]

Notes:

Severability—1994 c 1: "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." [ 1994 c 1 s 6 (Initiative Measure No. 593, approved November 2, 1993).]
Short title—1994 c 1: "This act shall be known and may be cited as the persistent offender accountability act." [ 1994 c 1 s 7 (Initiative Measure No. 593, approved November 2, 1993).]
Captions—1994 c 1: "Captions as used in this act do not constitute any part of the law." [ 1994 c 1 s 8 (Initiative Measure No. 593, approved November 2, 1993).]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2002–2025 · leading case: State v. Moretti, 446 P.3d 609 (Wash. 2019).
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State v. Moretti, 446 P.3d 609 (Wash. 2019). · cites it 2× “" RCW 9.94A.555. In Bassett, we explained that incapacitation could not justify sentencing a juvenile to life in prison without the possibility of parole because this "sentence 'makes an irrevocable judgment about that person[ ]' that is at odds with what we know about…”
State v. Williams, 234 P.3d 1174 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “¶ 33 The Washington Supreme Court has rejected equal protection arguments under the Persistent Offender Accountability Act (RCW 9.94A.555) that would require the State to submit a defendant's prior convictions to a jury and to prove them beyond a reasonable doubt.”
State v. Sublett, 231 P.3d 231 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “¶ 33 At sentencing, the State sought a life sentence for Sublett under the Persistent Offenders Accountability Act (POAA), RCW 9.94A.555, based on his prior California robbery convictions.”
State v. Reynolds, 535 P.3d 427 (Wash. 2023). “RCW 9.94A.555. Starting in 2018, the legislature updated two juvenile laws relevant to this case: RCW 13.”
In Re Crace, 236 P.3d 914 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “Under the Persistent Offender Accountability Act, RCW 9.94A.555, the trial court sentenced Crace to life without the possibility of early release based on two previous violent convictions.”
In re the Pers. Restraint of Crace, 157 Wash. App. 81 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “Under the Persistent Offender Accountability Act, RCW 9.94A.555, the trial court sentenced Crace to life without the possibility of early release based on two previous convictions of qualifying strike offenses.”
State v. Flores, 56 P.3d 622 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). “RCW 9.94A.555(2); Thorne, 129 Wn.2d at 771-72 .”
State v. Tessema, 162 P.3d 420 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “RCW 9.94A.555. Thorne, 129 Wn.2d at 754-55 .”
State v. Flores, 56 P.3d 622 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). “RCW 9.94A.555(2); Thorne, 129 Wash.2d at 771-72 , 921 P.”
State v. Tessema, 162 P.3d 420 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “[20] RCW 9.94A.555. [21] Thorne, 129 Wash.2d at 754-55 , 921 P.”
State v. Saenz, 234 P.3d 336 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “Saenz under the Persistent Offender Accountability Act (POAA), RCW 9.94A.555. We conclude sufficient evidence supports the convictions, and we affirm the convictions.”
State v. Williams, 156 Wash. App. 482 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “¶33 The Washington Supreme Court has rejected equal protection arguments under the Persistent Offender Accountability Act (RCW 9.94A.555) that would require the State to submit a defendant’s prior convictions to a jury and to prove them beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Show all 15 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.94A.555(1) — 1 case
State Of Washington v. Anthony A. Moretti (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.94A.555(2) — 5 cases
State v. Williams, 234 P.3d 1174 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “¶ 33 The Washington Supreme Court has rejected equal protection arguments under the Persistent Offender Accountability Act (RCW 9.94A.555) that would require the State to submit a defendant's prior convictions to a jury and to prove them beyond a reasonable doubt.”
State v. Flores, 56 P.3d 622 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). “RCW 9.94A.555(2); Thorne, 129 Wn.2d at 771-72 .”
State v. Flores, 56 P.3d 622 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). “RCW 9.94A.555(2); Thorne, 129 Wash.2d at 771-72 , 921 P.”
State v. Williams, 156 Wash. App. 482 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “¶33 The Washington Supreme Court has rejected equal protection arguments under the Persistent Offender Accountability Act (RCW 9.94A.555) that would require the State to submit a defendant’s prior convictions to a jury and to prove them beyond a reasonable doubt.”
State Of Washington v. Anthony A. Moretti (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
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