Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9A · Chapter 9A.44
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.132 (2026)

Failure to register as sex offender or kidnapping offender

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) A person commits the crime of failure to register as a sex offender if the person has a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130 for a felony sex offense and knowingly fails to comply with any of the requirements of RCW 9A.44.130.
(a) The failure to register as a sex offender pursuant to this subsection is a class C felony if the person has a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130(1)(a) and:
(i) It is the person's first conviction for a felony failure to register; or
(ii) The person has previously been convicted of a felony failure to register as a sex offender in this state or pursuant to the laws of another state, or pursuant to federal law.
(b) If a person has a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130(1)(a) and has been convicted of a felony failure to register as a sex offender in this state or pursuant to the laws of another state, or pursuant to federal law, on two or more prior occasions, the failure to register under this subsection is a class B felony.
(c) The failure to register as a sex offender is a gross misdemeanor if the person has a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130(1)(b).
(2) A person is guilty of failure to register as a sex offender if the person has a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130 for a sex offense other than a felony and knowingly fails to comply with any of the requirements of RCW 9A.44.130. The failure to register as a sex offender under this subsection is a gross misdemeanor.
(3) A person commits the crime of failure to register as a kidnapping offender if the person has a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130 for a kidnapping offense and knowingly fails to comply with any of the requirements of RCW 9A.44.130.
(a) If the person has a duty to register for a felony kidnapping offense, the failure to register as a kidnapping offender is a class C felony.
(b) If the person has a duty to register for a kidnapping offense other than a felony, the failure to register as a kidnapping offender is a gross misdemeanor.
(4) Unless relieved of the duty to register pursuant to RCW 9A.44.141 and 9A.44.142, a violation of this section is an ongoing offense for purposes of the statute of limitations under RCW 9A.04.080.
[ 2023 c 150 s 6; 2019 c 443 s 4; 2015 c 261 s 5; 2011 c 337 s 5; 2010 c 267 s 3.]

Notes:

Findings—Intent—2023 c 150: See note following RCW 9A.44.130.
Short title—Findings—2019 c 443: See notes following RCW 43.43.754.
Application—2010 c 267: See note following RCW 9A.44.128.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 71 cases (19 in the last 5 years), 2012–2026 · leading case: In re Pers. Restraint of Arnold, 410 P.3d 1133 (Wash. 2018).
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In re Pers. Restraint of Arnold, 410 P.3d 1133 (Wash. 2018). · cites it 7× “44 RCW [sex offenses] other than RCW 9A.44.132 [failure to register as sex offender or kidnapping offender-refusal to provide DNA]; .”
State v. Smith, 344 P.3d 1244 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 2× “RCW 9A.44.132 criminalizes a convicted sex offender’s failure to comply with the registration requirements of RCW 9A.”
State Of Washington, V Franklin Hershel Wilcox, 383 P.3d 549 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 16× “130 (2008), not RCW 9A.44.132. We hold that the unambiguous plain language of former RCW 9.”
State v. Benitez, 302 P.3d 877 (Wash. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “44 RCW other than RCW 9A.44.132.” Benitez argues that because a juvenile offense is not a felony, Benitez’s juvenile adjudication “does not qualify as a ‘sex offense’ for purposes of indecent exposure.”
In re Thompson, 429 P.3d 545 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 11× “020(1), "[a] person is guilty of an attempt to commit a crime if, with intent to commit a specific crime, he or she does any act which is a substantial step toward the commission of that crime.”
State v. Buck, 544 P.3d 506 (Wash. 2024). · cites it 4× “030(47)(a)(v) defines “sex offense” as “[a] felony violation of RCW 9A.44.132(1) (failure to register as a sex offender).”
State Of Washington v. Benjamin Batson, Jr, 377 P.3d 238 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 3× “5 *330 ¶13 RCW 9A.44.132 criminalizes failing to register as a sex offender.”
State v. Mason, 285 P.3d 154 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “130(11) was recodified as RCW 9A.44.132, effective June 10, 2010. Laws of 2010, ch.”
United States v. Joshua Elkins, 683 F.3d 1039 (9th Cir. 2012). “However, he also must show that he “has not been *1049 adjudicated or convicted of a violation of RCW 9A.44.132 (failure to register) during the sixty months prior to filing the petition.”
State v. Batson, 478 P.3d 75 (Wash. 2020). · cites it 4× “RCW 9A.44.132 states that it is a crime to knowingly fail to comply with applicable sex offender registration requirements.”
State Of Washington, V Adrian Reyni Valencia, 416 P.3d 1275 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “RCW 9A.44.132(1) states, “A person commits the crime of failure to register as a sex offender if the person has a duty to register under RCW 9A.”
State Of Washington v. Benjamin Batson, 447 P.3d 202 (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 3× “Because Batson is homeless, he must also report weekly to the sheriff of the county of registration and maintain an “accurate accounting” of each location he stayed during the week.”
Show all 71 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.132(1) — 41 cases
In re Pers. Restraint of Arnold, 410 P.3d 1133 (Wash. 2018). “44 RCW [sex offenses] other than RCW 9A.44.132 [failure to register as sex offender or kidnapping offender-refusal to provide DNA]; .”
In re Thompson, 429 P.3d 545 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “020(1), "[a] person is guilty of an attempt to commit a crime if, with intent to commit a specific crime, he or she does any act which is a substantial step toward the commission of that crime.”
State v. Smith, 344 P.3d 1244 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). “RCW 9A.44.132 criminalizes a convicted sex offender’s failure to comply with the registration requirements of RCW 9A.”
State Of Washington, V Franklin Hershel Wilcox, 383 P.3d 549 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “130 (2008), not RCW 9A.44.132. We hold that the unambiguous plain language of former RCW 9.”
State Of Washington, V Adrian Reyni Valencia, 416 P.3d 1275 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “RCW 9A.44.132(1) states, “A person commits the crime of failure to register as a sex offender if the person has a duty to register under RCW 9A.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.132(1)(a) — 3 cases
State Of Washington v. Malachi Mark Watkins (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
State Of Washington v. Aaron Joseph Owens (Wash. Ct. App. 2021).
State Of Washington, V. Jason Fuller, 547 P.3d 939 (Wash. Ct. App. 2024).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.132(1)(a)(i) — 1 case
Pers. Restraint Petition Of Matthew Quinn Shoop (Wash. Ct. App. 2015).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.132(1)(a)(ii) — 3 cases
State Of Washington, V. Michael Murray (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
Pers. Restraint Petition Of James Stephen Coon, Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
Pers. Restraint Petition Of Brandon Casey Pries (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.132(1)(b) — 15 cases
State v. Buck, 544 P.3d 506 (Wash. 2024). “030(47)(a)(v) defines “sex offense” as “[a] felony violation of RCW 9A.44.132(1) (failure to register as a sex offender).”
In re Thompson, 429 P.3d 545 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “020(1), "[a] person is guilty of an attempt to commit a crime if, with intent to commit a specific crime, he or she does any act which is a substantial step toward the commission of that crime.”
State of Washington v. Nicky Lee Creekmore (Wash. Ct. App. 2024).
State Of Washington, V. Zachary Irwin Pond (Wash. Ct. App. 2026).
State of Washington v. Patrick L. Rhynard (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.132(2) — 3 cases
State of Washington v. Robert Russell Ellison (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State of Washington v. Patrick L. Rhynard (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State Of Washington, V John Milam (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.132(b) — 1 case
State Of Washington, Respondent-cross v. Christopher M. Smith, Appellant-cross Resp (Wash. Ct. App. 2014).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.132(l)(b) — 3 cases
State Of Washington v. Benjamin Batson, Jr, 377 P.3d 238 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “5 *330 ¶13 RCW 9A.44.132 criminalizes failing to register as a sex offender.”
State of Washington v. Patrick L. Rhynard (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State of Washington v. Steven K. Young (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
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