Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9A · Chapter 9A.20
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.020 (2026)

Authorized sentences for crimes committed before July 1, 1984

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) Felony. Every person convicted of a classified felony shall be punished as follows:
(a) For a class A felony, by imprisonment in a state correctional institution for a maximum term fixed by the court of not less than twenty years, or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court of not more than fifty thousand dollars, or by both such imprisonment and fine;
(b) For a class B felony, by imprisonment in a state correctional institution for a maximum term of not more than ten years, or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court of not more than twenty thousand dollars, or by both such imprisonment and fine;
(c) For a class C felony, by imprisonment in a state correctional institution for a maximum term of not more than five years, or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court of not more than ten thousand dollars, or by both such imprisonment and fine.
(2) Gross Misdemeanor. Every person convicted of a gross misdemeanor defined in Title 9A RCW shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a maximum term fixed by the court of up to three hundred sixty-four days, or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court of not more than five thousand dollars, or by both such imprisonment and fine.
(3) Misdemeanor. Every person convicted of a misdemeanor defined in Title 9A RCW shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a maximum term fixed by the court of not more than ninety days, or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court of not more than one thousand dollars, or by both such imprisonment and fine.
(4) This section applies to only those crimes committed prior to July 1, 1984.
[ 2011 c 96 s 12; 1982 c 192 s 9; 1981 c 137 s 37; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 38 s 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.20.020.]

Notes:

Findings—Intent—2011 c 96: See note following RCW 9A.20.021.
Effective date—Severability—1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 38: See notes following RCW 9A.08.020.
Penalty assessments in addition to fine or bail forfeiture—Crime victim and witness programs in county: RCW 7.68.035.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 94 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1978–2025 · leading case: State v. Rice, 655 P.2d 1145 (Wash. 1983).
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State v. Rice, 655 P.2d 1145 (Wash. 1983). · cites it 34× “40 may include terms of confinement which exceed the maximum sentences allowed by RCW 9A.20.020; second, if the Legislature so intended, whether confining juveniles for periods longer than the maximum allowed for *386 adults violates the equal protection clauses of the United…”
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 12× “By comparison, at present, the crime of first degree theft (property or services with a value in excess of $1,500) is a class B felony with a maximum punishment of 10 years.”
Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296 (2004). · cites it 2× “Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9A.20.020 (2000); see also Sentencing Reform Act of 1981, 1981 Wash.”
City of Seattle v. Fuller, 300 P.3d 340 (Wash. 2013). · cites it 9× “mission of a crime, upon conviction thereof or when the offender pleads guilty to a lesser offense or fewer offenses and agrees with the prosecutor’s recommendation that the offender be required to pay restitution to a victim of an offense or offenses which are not prosecuted…”
State v. Smith, 610 P.2d 869 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 2× “" The punishment prescribed is provided in RCW 9A.20.020 for class C felonies, and this offense should be regarded as such.”
State v. Ritchie, 894 P.2d 1308 (Wash. 1995). · cites it 2× “RCW 9A.20.020. A sentence of 75 years effectively imposes the statutory maximum on 17-year-old Scott for his first offense.”
State v. Oxborrow, 723 P.2d 1123 (Wash. 1986). · cites it 2× “RCW 9A.20.020(1)(b), 9A.56.030(2), 21.20.”
In Re the Pers. Restraint of Young, 622 P.2d 373 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 4× “He cites RCW 9A.20.020, which provides that a person convicted of a felony shall be punished by imprisonment in a state correctional institution.”
State v. Rivers, 129 Wash. 2d 697 (Wash. 1996). · cites it 2× “RCW 9A.20.020(1)(b). Some class C felonies are also strikes (second degree manslaughter (RCW 9.”
State v. Rivers, 921 P.2d 495 (Wash. 1996). · cites it 2× “RCW 9A.20.020(1)(b). Some class C felonies are also strikes (second degree manslaughter (RCW 9.”
State v. Armstrong, 723 P.2d 1111 (Wash. 1986). · cites it 2× “The sentencing of criminals outside the presumptive range would have no structure except that the sentence could not exceed the statutory maximums in RCW 9A.20.020. *554 Moreover, the majority's decision would defeat the first listed purpose of the sentencing reform act: "[T]hat…”
State v. McDougal, 841 P.2d 1232 (Wash. 1992). · cites it 2× “" The punishment prescribed is provided in RCW 9A.20.020 for class C felonies, and this offense should be regarded as such.”
Show all 94 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.020(1) — 2 cases
In re the Pers. Restraint of Wilson, 621 P.2d 151 (Wash. 1980).
State of Washington v. Dane Marcus Forss (Wash. Ct. App. 2024).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.020(1)(a) — 4 cases
State v. Theroff, 657 P.2d 800 (Wash. Ct. App. 1983).
State v. Cunningham, 633 P.2d 886 (Wash. 1981).
State v. Rudolph, 168 P.3d 430 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).
State v. King, 925 P.2d 606 (Wash. 1996).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.020(1)(b) — 11 cases
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). “By comparison, at present, the crime of first degree theft (property or services with a value in excess of $1,500) is a class B felony with a maximum punishment of 10 years.”
State v. Oxborrow, 723 P.2d 1123 (Wash. 1986). “RCW 9A.20.020(1)(b), 9A.56.030(2), 21.20.”
State v. Rivers, 129 Wash. 2d 697 (Wash. 1996). “RCW 9A.20.020(1)(b). Some class C felonies are also strikes (second degree manslaughter (RCW 9.”
State v. Rivers, 921 P.2d 495 (Wash. 1996). “RCW 9A.20.020(1)(b). Some class C felonies are also strikes (second degree manslaughter (RCW 9.”
State v. Robinson, 175 P.3d 1136 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.020(1)(c) — 11 cases
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). “By comparison, at present, the crime of first degree theft (property or services with a value in excess of $1,500) is a class B felony with a maximum punishment of 10 years.”
State v. Rivers, 129 Wash. 2d 697 (Wash. 1996). “RCW 9A.20.020(1)(b). Some class C felonies are also strikes (second degree manslaughter (RCW 9.”
State v. Rivers, 921 P.2d 495 (Wash. 1996). “RCW 9A.20.020(1)(b). Some class C felonies are also strikes (second degree manslaughter (RCW 9.”
State v. Franklin, 729 P.2d 70 (Wash. Ct. App. 1986).
Compassion In Dying v. State Of Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.020(2) — 10 cases
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). “By comparison, at present, the crime of first degree theft (property or services with a value in excess of $1,500) is a class B felony with a maximum punishment of 10 years.”
Avlonitis v. Seattle Dist. Court, 646 P.2d 128 (Wash. 1982).
State v. Zibell, 646 P.2d 154 (Wash. Ct. App. 1982).
State v. Bernhard, 741 P.2d 1 (Wash. 1987).
State v. Sass, 620 P.2d 79 (Wash. 1980).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.020(3) — 1 case
State of Washington v. Glen Howard Pinkham (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.020(a) — 1 case
State v. Cunningham, 616 P.2d 702 (Wash. Ct. App. 1980).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.020(b) — 5 cases
State v. Cunningham, 598 P.2d 756 (Wash. Ct. App. 1979).
State v. Hinz, 594 P.2d 1350 (Wash. Ct. App. 1979).
State v. Sass, 600 P.2d 688 (Wash. Ct. App. 1979).
State v. Cunningham, 616 P.2d 702 (Wash. Ct. App. 1980).
State v. Prater, 589 P.2d 295 (Wash. Ct. App. 1978).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.020(c) — 1 case
State v. Cunningham, 598 P.2d 756 (Wash. Ct. App. 1979).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.020(l)(a) — 7 cases
State v. Henderson, 664 P.2d 1291 (Wash. Ct. App. 1983).
State v. Ross, 883 P.2d 329 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994).
State v. King, 925 P.2d 606 (Wash. 1996).
State v. Cunningham, 633 P.2d 886 (Wash. 1981).
State v. Rudolph, 141 Wash. App. 59 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.020(l)(b) — 5 cases
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). “By comparison, at present, the crime of first degree theft (property or services with a value in excess of $1,500) is a class B felony with a maximum punishment of 10 years.”
State v. Oxborrow, 723 P.2d 1123 (Wash. 1986). “RCW 9A.20.020(1)(b), 9A.56.030(2), 21.20.”
State v. Sass, 620 P.2d 79 (Wash. 1980).
State v. Walker, 619 P.2d 699 (Wash. Ct. App. 1980).
State v. Robinson, 142 Wash. App. 649 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.020(l)(c) — 5 cases
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). “By comparison, at present, the crime of first degree theft (property or services with a value in excess of $1,500) is a class B felony with a maximum punishment of 10 years.”
United States v. Carr, 513 F.3d 1164 (9th Cir. 2008).
State v. Harris, 693 P.2d 750 (Wash. Ct. App. 1985).
State v. Foltz, 619 P.2d 702 (Wash. Ct. App. 1980).
In re the Pers. Restraint of Wilson, 621 P.2d 151 (Wash. 1980).
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.