Revised Code of Washington
Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.143 (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) An offender having a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130 for a sex offense or kidnapping offense committed when the offender was a juvenile, and who has not been determined to be a sexually violent predator pursuant to chapter 71.09 RCW may petition the superior court to be relieved of that duty as provided in this section.
(2) For class A sex offenses or kidnapping offenses committed when the petitioner was fifteen years of age or older, the court may relieve the petitioner of the duty to register if:
(a) At least sixty months have passed since the petitioner's adjudication and completion of any term of confinement for the offense giving rise to the duty to register and the petitioner has not been adjudicated or convicted of any additional sex offenses or kidnapping offenses within the sixty months before the petition;
(b) The petitioner has not been adjudicated or convicted of a violation of RCW 9A.44.132 (failure to register) during the sixty months prior to filing the petition; and
(c) The petitioner shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the petitioner is sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant removal from the central registry of sex offenders and kidnapping offenders.
(3) For all other sex offenses or kidnapping offenses committed by a juvenile not included in subsection (2) of this section, the court may relieve the petitioner of the duty to register if:
(a) At least twenty-four months have passed since the petitioner's adjudication and completion of any term of confinement for the offense giving rise to the duty to register and the petitioner has not been adjudicated or convicted of any additional sex offenses or kidnapping offenses within the twenty-four months before the petition;
(b) The petitioner has not been adjudicated or convicted of a violation of RCW 9A.44.132 (failure to register) during the twenty-four months prior to filing the petition; and
(c) The petitioner shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the petitioner is sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant removal from the central registry of sex offenders and kidnapping offenders.
(4) A petition for relief from registration under this section shall be made to the court in which the petitioner was convicted of the offense that subjects him or her to the duty to register or, in the case of convictions in other states, a foreign country, or a federal or military court, to the court in the county in which the juvenile is registered at the time a petition is sought. The prosecuting attorney of the county shall be named and served as the respondent in any such petition. The prosecuting attorney must make reasonable efforts to notify the victim via the victim's choice of telephone, letter, or email, if known.
(5) In determining whether the petitioner is sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant removal from the central registry of sex offenders and kidnapping offenders, the following factors are provided as guidance to assist the court in making its determination, to the extent the factors are applicable considering the age and circumstances of the petitioner:
(a) The nature of the registrable offense committed including the number of victims and the length of the offense history;
(b) Any subsequent criminal history;
(c) The petitioner's compliance with supervision requirements;
(d) The length of time since the charged incident(s) occurred;
(e) Any input from community corrections officers, juvenile parole or probation officers, law enforcement, or treatment providers;
(f) Participation in sex offender treatment;
(g) Participation in other treatment and rehabilitative programs;
(h) The offender's stability in employment and housing;
(i) The offender's community and personal support system;
(j) Any risk assessments or evaluations prepared by a qualified professional;
(k) Any updated polygraph examination;
(l) Any input of the victim;
(m) Any other factors the court may consider relevant.
(6) If a person is relieved of the duty to register pursuant to this section, the relief of registration does not constitute a certificate of rehabilitation, or the equivalent of a certificate of rehabilitation, for the purposes of restoration of firearm possession under RCW 9.41.040.
(7) A juvenile prosecuted and convicted of a sex offense or kidnapping offense as an adult pursuant to RCW 13.40.110 or 13.04.030 may not petition to the superior court under this section and must follow the provisions of RCW 9A.44.142.
(8) An adult prosecuted for an offense committed as a juvenile once the juvenile court has lost jurisdiction due to the passage of time between the date of the offense and the date of filing of charges may petition the superior court under the provisions of this section.
Notes:
Application—2010 c 267: See note following RCW 9A.44.128.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20
cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2011–2025 · leading case: United States v. Joshua Elkins, 683 F.3d 1039 (9th Cir. 2012).
United States v. Joshua Elkins, 683 F.3d 1039 (9th Cir. 2012). “” Wash. Rev.Code 9A.44.143(2)(b). Under federal law, Elkins’s registration requirement could be reduced to 25 years if he maintained a clean record.”
Jerry L. Barr v. Snohomish Cnty. Sheriff, 419 P.3d 867 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “130 or has been relieved of the duty to register under RCW 9A.44.143 if the person was convicted of a sex offense; (v) The person has not been convicted of rape in the first degree, rape in the second degree, or indecent liberties that was actually committed with forcible…”
State v. S.J.C., 352 P.3d 749 (Wash. 2015). “nt, including full-time residential treatment, if any, entry of disposition, or completion of the diversion agreement, the person has spent two consecutive years in the community without being convicted of any offense or crime; (ii) No proceeding is pending against the moving…”
The PEOPLE of the State of Colorado, Petitioner/Cross-Respondent, IN the INTEREST OF T.B., Respondent/Cross-Petitioner, 489 P.3d 752 (Colo. 2021). “Codified Laws § 22 -24B-17 ( 2021 ) ; Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.143 ( 2021 ) ; see also Powell , ––– S.”
State Of Washington, V. Endy Domingo-Cornelio, 527 P.3d 1188 (Wash. Ct. App. 2023). “The State further argued that sex offender registration was nonpunitive, the registration requirement arose from statute and not a court order, and the legislature had already recognized modifications for juveniles, given they could seek relief from registration earlier than…”
Siperek v. United States, 270 F. Supp. 3d 1242 (W.D. Wash. 2017). “130 or has been relieved of the duty to register under RCW 9A.44.143 if the person was convicted of a sex offense; (v) The person has not been convicted of rape in the first degree, rape in the second degree, or indecent liberties that was actually committed with forcible…”
State v. Hamedian, 354 P.3d 937 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). “ment, if any, entry of disposition, or completion of the diversion agreement, the person has spent two consecutive years in the community without being convicted of any offense or crime; (ii) No proceeding is pending against the moving party seeking the conviction of a juvenile…”
State v. J.C., 366 P.3d 455 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “130 or has been relieved of the duty to register under RCW 9A.44.143 if the person was convicted of a sex offense; (v) The person has not been convicted of rape in the first degree, rape in the second degree, or indecent liberties that was actually committed with forcible…”
State Of Washington, V. R.w.w. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “Juvenile offenders are not similarly precluded. Further, RCW 9A.44.143 provides for separate categories based on the age of the offender.”
State v. P.M.P., 434 P.3d 1083 (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). “130 or has been relieved of the duty to register under RCW 9A.44.143 if the person was convicted of a sex offense; and (v) The person has paid the full amount of restitution owing to the individual victim named in the restitution order, excluding restitution owed to any…”
State v. R.P.H., 265 P.3d 890 (Wash. 2011). “Notably, RCW 9A.44.143(3)(c) now provides that a court may relieve an offender of the duty to register if the petitioner “shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the petitioner is sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant removal from the central registry of sex offenders.”
State Of Washington, V. Darren Ronell Smith Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “Smith’s prior convictions for failure to register prevented him from petitioning for relief from the registration and reporting requirements under RCW 9A.44.143(3). Under this statute, he could petition for relief from the registration requirement once he lived in the community…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.143(1) — 1 case
State Of Washington, V. R.w.w. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “Juvenile offenders are not similarly precluded. Further, RCW 9A.44.143 provides for separate categories based on the age of the offender.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.143(2) — 1 case
State Of Washington, V. R.w.w. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “Juvenile offenders are not similarly precluded. Further, RCW 9A.44.143 provides for separate categories based on the age of the offender.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.143(2)(a) — 2 cases
State Of Washington, V. Endy Domingo-Cornelio, 527 P.3d 1188 (Wash. Ct. App. 2023). “The State further argued that sex offender registration was nonpunitive, the registration requirement arose from statute and not a court order, and the legislature had already recognized modifications for juveniles, given they could seek relief from registration earlier than…”
State Of Washington, V. R.w.w. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “Juvenile offenders are not similarly precluded. Further, RCW 9A.44.143 provides for separate categories based on the age of the offender.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.143(2)(b) — 1 case
United States v. Joshua Elkins, 683 F.3d 1039 (9th Cir. 2012). “” Wash. Rev.Code 9A.44.143(2)(b). Under federal law, Elkins’s registration requirement could be reduced to 25 years if he maintained a clean record.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.143(2)(c) — 1 case
United States v. Joshua Elkins, 683 F.3d 1039 (9th Cir. 2012). “” Wash. Rev.Code 9A.44.143(2)(b). Under federal law, Elkins’s registration requirement could be reduced to 25 years if he maintained a clean record.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.143(3) — 1 case
State Of Washington, V. Darren Ronell Smith Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “Smith’s prior convictions for failure to register prevented him from petitioning for relief from the registration and reporting requirements under RCW 9A.44.143(3). Under this statute, he could petition for relief from the registration requirement once he lived in the community…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.143(3)(a) — 1 case
State Of Washington, V. R.w.w. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “Juvenile offenders are not similarly precluded. Further, RCW 9A.44.143 provides for separate categories based on the age of the offender.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.143(3)(c) — 1 case
State v. R.P.H., 265 P.3d 890 (Wash. 2011). “Notably, RCW 9A.44.143(3)(c) now provides that a court may relieve an offender of the duty to register if the petitioner “shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the petitioner is sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant removal from the central registry of sex offenders.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.143(5)(a) — 1 case
State of Washington v. Wallace Edward Schneider (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
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.