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

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021 (2026)

Maximum sentences for crimes committed July 1, 1984, and after

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) Felony. Unless a different maximum sentence for a classified felony is specifically established by a statute of this state, no person convicted of a classified felony shall be punished by confinement or fine exceeding the following:
(a) For a class A felony, by confinement in a state correctional institution for a term of life imprisonment, or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court of fifty thousand dollars, or by both such confinement and fine;
(b) For a class B felony, by confinement in a state correctional institution for a term of ten years, or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court of twenty thousand dollars, or by both such confinement and fine;
(c) For a class C felony, by confinement in a state correctional institution for five years, or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court of ten thousand dollars, or by both such confinement 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 on or after July 1, 1984.
(5) The fines in this section apply to adult offenders only.
[ 2015 c 265 s 16; 2011 c 96 s 13. Prior: 2003 c 288 s 7; 2003 c 53 s 63; 1982 c 192 s 10.]

Notes:

Finding—Intent—2015 c 265: See note following RCW 13.50.010.
Findings—Intent—2011 c 96: "The legislature finds that a maximum sentence by a court in the state of Washington for a gross misdemeanor can, under federal law, result in the automatic deportation of a person who has lawfully immigrated to the United States, is a victim of domestic violence or a political refugee, even when all or part of the sentence to total confinement is suspended. The legislature further finds that this is a disproportionate outcome, when compared to a person who has been convicted of certain felonies which, under the state's determinate sentencing law, must be sentenced to less than one year and, hence, either have no impact on that person's residency status or will provide that person an opportunity to be heard in immigration proceedings where the court will determine whether deportation is appropriate. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to cure this inequity by reducing the maximum sentence for a gross misdemeanor by one day." [ 2011 c 96 s 1.]
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.
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 556 cases (107 in the last 5 years), 1986–2026 · leading case: State v. Toney
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State v. Toney, 205 P.3d 944 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 10× “Under this presumptive range, Toney had an offender score of 6 and the seriousness level of 7 for the burglary, making his maximum presumptive sentence 75 months under former RCW 9.”
State v. Toney, 149 Wash. App. 787 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 10× “Under this presumptive range, Toney had an offender score of 6 and a seriousness level of 7 for the burglary, making his maximum presumptive sentence 75 months under former RCW 9.”
State v. Manussier, 921 P.2d 473 (Wash. 1996). · cites it 6× “" Appellant claims Initiative 593 violates this constitutional provision because it amends RCW 9A.20.021, the section of the criminal code providing maximum penalties for all offenses, without referring to the statute.”
State v. Manussier, 129 Wash. 2d 652 (Wash. 1996). · cites it 6× “” Appellant claims Initiative 593 violates this constitutional provision because it amends RCW 9A.20.021, the section of the crim *663 inal code providing maximum penalties for all offenses, without referring to the statute.”
State of Washington v. Joshua James Clark, 362 P.3d 309 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 4× “*372 ¶5 The trial court imposed the requested financial payments, including a $500 fine pursuant to RCW 9A.20.021. The court also ordered a 38-month prison sentence to be served consecutively to the earlier offense.”
State Of Washington v. Adrian Munoz Rivera, 361 P.3d 182 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 4× “00 fine under RCW 9A.20.021. The court ordered $1,502.42 of mandatory costs consisting of a $452.”
State v. Armendariz, 156 P.3d 201 (Wash. 2007). · cites it 2× “120(20) expressly authorized a five-year no-contact order as part of Armendariz's sentence for assault. However, former RCW 9.”
State v. Armendariz, 160 Wash. 2d 106 (Wash. 2007). · cites it 2× “031(2) (third-degree assault is a class C felony); RCW 9A.20.021(l)(c) (maximum five years’ confinement for class C felonies).”
State v. Ritchie, 894 P.2d 1308 (Wash. 1995). · cites it 4× “RCW 9A.20.021(1)(a). The trial court imposed an exceptional sentence of 312 months (26 years), over three times the top of the standard range.”
State v. Bruch, 346 P.3d 724 (Wash. 2015). · cites it 5× “Where the SRA contains an obligation to sentence within the “statutory maximum,” it refers to the maximum sentences set forth in RCW 9A.20.021. See RCW 9.94A.701(9). In contrast, the requirement that a trial court sentence offenders such as Bruch to a three-year community…”
State v. Franklin, 263 P.3d 585 (Wash. 2011). · cites it 4× “7 The term of community custody specified by this section shall be reduced by the court whenever an offender’s standard range term of confinement in combination with the term of community custody exceeds the statutory maximum for the crime as provided in RCW 9A.20.021. *837 Laws…”
State v. Blake, 481 P.3d 521 (Wash. 2021). “RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c). In addition, all such felony convictions strip defendants of many fundamental rights, both during their time of incarceration and long afterward.”
Show all 556 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(1) — 19 cases
State v. DeSantiago, 68 P.3d 1065 (Wash. 2003).
State v. Toney, 205 P.3d 944 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “Under this presumptive range, Toney had an offender score of 6 and the seriousness level of 7 for the burglary, making his maximum presumptive sentence 75 months under former RCW 9.”
State v. Toney, 149 Wash. App. 787 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “Under this presumptive range, Toney had an offender score of 6 and a seriousness level of 7 for the burglary, making his maximum presumptive sentence 75 months under former RCW 9.”
State v. Pannell, 267 P.3d 349 (Wash. 2011).
State v. Williams, 133 Wash. App. 714 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(1)(C) — 1 case
State Of Washington, Respondent/cr-appellant v. Tracy Jurod Dubose, Appellant/cr-respondent (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(1)(a) — 70 cases
State v. Aguirre, 229 P.3d 669 (Wash. 2010).
State v. Thorne, 921 P.2d 514 (Wash. 1996).
State v. Manussier, 921 P.2d 473 (Wash. 1996). “" Appellant claims Initiative 593 violates this constitutional provision because it amends RCW 9A.20.021, the section of the criminal code providing maximum penalties for all offenses, without referring to the statute.”
State v. Manussier, 129 Wash. 2d 652 (Wash. 1996). “” Appellant claims Initiative 593 violates this constitutional provision because it amends RCW 9A.20.021, the section of the crim *663 inal code providing maximum penalties for all offenses, without referring to the statute.”
State v. Goss, 378 P.3d 154 (Wash. 2016).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(1)(b) — 89 cases
State v. Pry, 452 P.3d 536 (Wash. 2019).
United States v. Robert Koch, 383 F.3d 436 (6th Cir. 2004).
State v. Jenks, 487 P.3d 482 (Wash. 2021).
State Of Washington v. Randolph C. Clark-el, 384 P.3d 627 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State v. Ritchie, 894 P.2d 1308 (Wash. 1995). “RCW 9A.20.021(1)(a). The trial court imposed an exceptional sentence of 312 months (26 years), over three times the top of the standard range.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(1)(b)(1982) — 1 case
Pers. Restraint Petition Of Phillip Lamont Alexander (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(1)(c) — 127 cases
State v. Armendariz, 156 P.3d 201 (Wash. 2007). “120(20) expressly authorized a five-year no-contact order as part of Armendariz's sentence for assault. However, former RCW 9.”
State v. Blake, 481 P.3d 521 (Wash. 2021). “RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c). In addition, all such felony convictions strip defendants of many fundamental rights, both during their time of incarceration and long afterward.”
State v. Van Buren, 98 P.3d 1235 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).
State v. Ward, 64 P.3d 640 (Wash. 2003).
State v. Oster, 52 P.3d 26 (Wash. 2002).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(2) — 33 cases
State v. Slattum, 295 P.3d 788 (Wash. Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Anderson, 151 Wash. App. 396 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009).
State v. Anderson, 212 P.3d 591 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009).
State v. Larson, 365 P.3d 740 (Wash. 2015).
Harris v. Charles, 256 P.3d 328 (Wash. 2011).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(3) — 12 cases
State Of Washington v. Esteban Joel Flores, 374 P.3d 222 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
Harris v. Charles, 256 P.3d 328 (Wash. 2011).
Harris v. Charles, 171 Wash. 2d 455 (Wash. 2011).
Dodge City Saloon, Inc. v. Washington State Liquor Control Bd., 288 P.3d 343 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012).
Harris v. Charles, 214 P.3d 962 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(a) — 7 cases
State v. Manussier, 921 P.2d 473 (Wash. 1996). “" Appellant claims Initiative 593 violates this constitutional provision because it amends RCW 9A.20.021, the section of the criminal code providing maximum penalties for all offenses, without referring to the statute.”
State v. Manussier, 129 Wash. 2d 652 (Wash. 1996). “” Appellant claims Initiative 593 violates this constitutional provision because it amends RCW 9A.20.021, the section of the crim *663 inal code providing maximum penalties for all offenses, without referring to the statute.”
State of Washington v. Matthew Henry DeVore, 413 P.3d 58 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
In Re Haynes, 996 P.2d 637 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000).
Pers. Restraint Petition Of Ronald L Brown (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(b) — 13 cases
State v. Thorne, 921 P.2d 514 (Wash. 1996).
State v. Farmer, 805 P.2d 200 (Wash. 1991).
State Of Washington v. Kevin Patrick Sullivan, 415 P.3d 1261 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Thomas, 54 P.3d 719 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002).
State v. Thorne, 921 P.2d 514 (Wash. 1996).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(c) — 17 cases
State v. Berg, 147 Wash. App. 923 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008).
State v. Berg, 198 P.3d 529 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008).
State v. Bash, 925 P.2d 978 (Wash. 1996).
State v. Williams, 159 Wash. App. 298 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Farmer, 805 P.2d 200 (Wash. 1991).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(c)(2) — 1 case
In Re The Pers. Restraint Petition Of Forrest E. Amos (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(l)(a) — 22 cases
State v. Ritchie, 894 P.2d 1308 (Wash. 1995). “RCW 9A.20.021(1)(a). The trial court imposed an exceptional sentence of 312 months (26 years), over three times the top of the standard range.”
In re the Pers. Restraint of Breedlove, 979 P.2d 417 (Wash. 1999).
State v. Toney, 149 Wash. App. 787 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “Under this presumptive range, Toney had an offender score of 6 and a seriousness level of 7 for the burglary, making his maximum presumptive sentence 75 months under former RCW 9.”
State v. Halsey, 140 Wash. App. 313 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).
State v. Bobenhouse, 143 Wash. App. 315 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(l)(b) — 29 cases
State v. Wheeler, 34 P.3d 799 (Wash. 2001).
United States v. Alfred Arnold Ameline, 376 F.3d 967 (9th Cir. 2004).
Besser v. Walsh Phillips v. Artus Portalatin v. Graham Morris v. Artus, 601 F.3d 163 (2d Cir. 2010).
State v. Pannell, 267 P.3d 349 (Wash. 2011).
State v. Bluehorse, 159 Wash. App. 410 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(l)(c) — 33 cases
State v. Armendariz, 160 Wash. 2d 106 (Wash. 2007). “031(2) (third-degree assault is a class C felony); RCW 9A.20.021(l)(c) (maximum five years’ confinement for class C felonies).”
State v. A.M., 448 P.3d 35 (Wash. 2019).
State v. Van Buren, 123 Wash. App. 634 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).
State of Washington v. Sergio Magana, Jr., 389 P.3d 654 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
In re the Pers. Restraint of Hopkins, 976 P.2d 616 (Wash. 1999).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021(l)(e) — 1 case
United States v. Gino Gonzaga Rodriquez, United States of Am. v. Gino Gonzaga Rodriquez, 464 F.3d 1072 (9th Cir. 2006).
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