Washington criminal charge
Bail jumping in Washington
Bail jumping is a criminal offense under Washington law, defined by RCW 9A.76.170. Its classification is not fixed: Washington assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by RCW 9A.76.170.
What is the penalty for bail jumping in Washington?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | Bail jumping — murder in the first degree — Applies when the person was held for, charged with, or convicted of murder in the first degree.; a maximum term of life imprisonment (RCW 9A.20.021(1)(a)); the sentence actually imposed is set by the Sentencing Reform Act standard range (RCW 9.94A.510) from the offense's seriousness level and the defendant's offender score | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $50,000 (Bail jumping — murder in the first degree — Applies when the person was held for, charged with, or convicted of murder in the first degree.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Bail jumping — class A felony other than murder in the first degree — Applies when the person was held for, charged with, or convicted of a class A felony other than murder in the first degree.; statutory maximum (RCW 9A.20.021(1)(b)); the sentence actually imposed is set by the Sentencing Reform Act standard range (RCW 9.94A.510) from the offense's seriousness level and the defendant's offender score) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $20,000 (Bail jumping — class A felony other than murder in the first degree — Applies when the person was held for, charged with, or convicted of a class A felony other than murder in the first degree.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Bail jumping — class B or class C felony — Applies when the person was held for, charged with, or convicted of a class B or class C felony.; statutory maximum (RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c)); the sentence actually imposed is set by the Sentencing Reform Act standard range (RCW 9.94A.510) from the offense's seriousness level and the defendant's offender score) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Bail jumping — class B or class C felony — Applies when the person was held for, charged with, or convicted of a class B or class C felony.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 90 days (Bail jumping — gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor — Applies when the person was held for, charged with, or convicted of a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(3)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.030 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Bail jumping — gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor — Applies when the person was held for, charged with, or convicted of a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
Applies to crimes committed on or after July 1, 1984.
How is bail jumping classified in Washington?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bail jumping — murder in the first degree | Class A Felony | Applies when the person was held for, charged with, or convicted of murder in the first degree. | RCW 9A.76.170(3)(a) |
| Bail jumping — class A felony other than murder in the first degree | Class B Felony | Applies when the person was held for, charged with, or convicted of a class A felony other than murder in the first degree. | RCW 9A.76.170(3)(b) |
| Bail jumping — class B or class C felony | Class C Felony | Applies when the person was held for, charged with, or convicted of a class B or class C felony. | RCW 9A.76.170(3)(c) |
| Bail jumping — gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor | Misdemeanor | Applies when the person was held for, charged with, or convicted of a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor. | RCW 9A.76.170(3)(d) |
Common questions about bail jumping in Washington
Is bail jumping a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
It depends on the circumstances: bail jumping ranges from a Misdemeanor to a Class A Felony in Washington under RCW 9A.76.170.
Bail jumping — murder in the first degree: Class A Felony (RCW 9A.76.170(3)(a)) · Bail jumping — class A felony other than murder in the first degree: Class B Felony (RCW 9A.76.170(3)(b)) · Bail jumping — class B or class C felony: Class C Felony (RCW 9A.76.170(3)(c)) · Bail jumping — gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor: Misdemeanor (RCW 9A.76.170(3)(d))
What are the penalties for bail jumping in Washington?
Penalties for bail jumping in Washington depend on how it is classified — from a Misdemeanor up to a Class A Felony — with the ranges set by RCW 9A.20.021; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Washington statute covers bail jumping?
Bail jumping is governed by RCW 9A.76.170 (Bail jumping).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.