Washington criminal charge
Enforcement and penalties in Washington
Enforcement and penalties is a criminal offense under Washington law, defined by RCW 7.105.450. 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 7.105.450.
What is the penalty for enforcement and penalties in Washington?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Gross misdemeanor violation of protection order — Violation of specified restraint, exclusion, distance, or pet-interference provisions of a qualifying protection order by a respondent who knows of the order, unless subsections (4) or (5) apply.; 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 (Gross misdemeanor violation of protection order — Violation of specified restraint, exclusion, distance, or pet-interference provisions of a qualifying protection order by a respondent who knows of the order, unless subsections (4) or (5) apply.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Class C felony - assault violating protection order — An assault violating a qualifying protection order that does not amount to first or second degree assault, or reckless conduct violating such an order creating a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury.; 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 (Class C felony - assault violating protection order — An assault violating a qualifying protection order that does not amount to first or second degree assault, or reckless conduct violating such an order creating a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury.; 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 (Class C felony - repeat violation — A violation of a qualifying protection order where the offender has at least two previous convictions for violating such orders, regardless of whether involving the same or different victims.; 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 (Class C felony - repeat violation — A violation of a qualifying protection order where the offender has at least two previous convictions for violating such orders, regardless of whether involving the same or different victims.; 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 enforcement and penalties classified in Washington?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross misdemeanor violation of protection order | Gross Misdemeanor | Violation of specified restraint, exclusion, distance, or pet-interference provisions of a qualifying protection order by a respondent who knows of the order, unless subsections (4) or (5) apply. | RCW 7.105.450(1)(a) |
| Class C felony - assault violating protection order | Class C Felony | An assault violating a qualifying protection order that does not amount to first or second degree assault, or reckless conduct violating such an order creating a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury. | RCW 7.105.450(4) |
| Class C felony - repeat violation | Class C Felony | A violation of a qualifying protection order where the offender has at least two previous convictions for violating such orders, regardless of whether involving the same or different victims. | RCW 7.105.450(5) |
Common questions about enforcement and penalties in Washington
Is enforcement and penalties a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
It depends on the circumstances: enforcement and penalties ranges from a Gross Misdemeanor to a Class C Felony in Washington under RCW 7.105.450.
Gross misdemeanor violation of protection order: Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 7.105.450(1)(a)) · Class C felony - assault violating protection order: Class C Felony (RCW 7.105.450(4)) · Class C felony - repeat violation: Class C Felony (RCW 7.105.450(5))
What are the penalties for enforcement and penalties in Washington?
Penalties for enforcement and penalties 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 enforcement and penalties?
Enforcement and penalties is governed by RCW 7.105.450 (Enforcement and penalties—Other than antiharassment protection orders and extreme risk protection orders).
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.