Washington criminal charge
Criminal conspiracy in Washington
Criminal conspiracy is a criminal offense under Washington law, defined by RCW 9A.28.040. 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.28.040.
What is the penalty for criminal conspiracy in Washington?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | Conspiracy to commit first degree murder — The object of the conspiratorial agreement is 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 (Conspiracy to commit first degree murder — The object of the conspiratorial agreement is 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 (Conspiracy to commit a class A felony (other than first degree murder) — The object of the conspiratorial agreement is 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 (Conspiracy to commit a class A felony (other than first degree murder) — The object of the conspiratorial agreement is 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 (Conspiracy to commit a class B felony — The object of the conspiratorial agreement is a class B 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 (Conspiracy to commit a class B felony — The object of the conspiratorial agreement is a class B 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 364 days (Conspiracy to commit a class C felony — The object of the conspiratorial agreement is a class C felony.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(2)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.020 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Conspiracy to commit a class C felony — The object of the conspiratorial agreement is a class C felony.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 90 days (Conspiracy to commit a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor — The object of the conspiratorial agreement is 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 (Conspiracy to commit a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor — The object of the conspiratorial agreement is 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 criminal conspiracy classified in Washington?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conspiracy to commit first degree murder | Class A Felony | The object of the conspiratorial agreement is murder in the first degree. | RCW 9A.28.040(3)(a) |
| Conspiracy to commit a class A felony (other than first degree murder) | Class B Felony | The object of the conspiratorial agreement is a class A felony other than murder in the first degree. | RCW 9A.28.040(3)(b) |
| Conspiracy to commit a class B felony | Class C Felony | The object of the conspiratorial agreement is a class B felony. | RCW 9A.28.040(3)(c) |
| Conspiracy to commit a class C felony | Gross Misdemeanor | The object of the conspiratorial agreement is a class C felony. | RCW 9A.28.040(3)(d) |
| Conspiracy to commit a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor | Misdemeanor | The object of the conspiratorial agreement is a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor. | RCW 9A.28.040(3)(e) |
Common questions about criminal conspiracy in Washington
Is criminal conspiracy a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
It depends on the circumstances: criminal conspiracy ranges from a Misdemeanor to a Class A Felony in Washington under RCW 9A.28.040.
Conspiracy to commit first degree murder: Class A Felony (RCW 9A.28.040(3)(a)) · Conspiracy to commit a class A felony (other than first degree murder): Class B Felony (RCW 9A.28.040(3)(b)) · Conspiracy to commit a class B felony: Class C Felony (RCW 9A.28.040(3)(c)) · Conspiracy to commit a class C felony: Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 9A.28.040(3)(d)) · Conspiracy to commit a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor: Misdemeanor (RCW 9A.28.040(3)(e))
What are the penalties for criminal conspiracy in Washington?
Penalties for criminal conspiracy 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 criminal conspiracy?
Criminal conspiracy is governed by RCW 9A.28.040 (Criminal conspiracy).
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.