Washington criminal charge
Criminal mischief in Washington
Criminal mischief is a criminal offense under Washington law, defined by RCW 9A.84.010. 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.84.010.
What is the penalty for criminal mischief in Washington?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Criminal mischief — base offense — Applies to the crime of criminal mischief unless the actor is armed with a deadly weapon.; 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 (Criminal mischief — base offense — Applies to the crime of criminal mischief unless the actor is armed with a deadly weapon.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Criminal mischief — armed with deadly weapon — Applies when the actor committing criminal mischief is armed with a deadly weapon.; 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 (Criminal mischief — armed with deadly weapon — Applies when the actor committing criminal mischief is armed with a deadly weapon.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
Applies to current.
How is criminal mischief classified in Washington?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal mischief — base offense | Gross Misdemeanor | Applies to the crime of criminal mischief unless the actor is armed with a deadly weapon. | RCW 9A.84.010(2)(a) |
| Criminal mischief — armed with deadly weapon | Class C Felony | Applies when the actor committing criminal mischief is armed with a deadly weapon. | RCW 9A.84.010(2)(b) |
Common questions about criminal mischief in Washington
Is criminal mischief a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
It depends on the circumstances: criminal mischief ranges from a Gross Misdemeanor to a Class C Felony in Washington under RCW 9A.84.010.
Criminal mischief — base offense: Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 9A.84.010(2)(a)) · Criminal mischief — armed with deadly weapon: Class C Felony (RCW 9A.84.010(2)(b))
What are the penalties for criminal mischief in Washington?
Penalties for criminal mischief in Washington depend on how it is classified — from a Gross Misdemeanor up to a Class C 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 mischief?
Criminal mischief is governed by RCW 9A.84.010 (Criminal mischief).
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.