Washington criminal charge
False reporting in Washington
False reporting is a criminal offense under Washington law, defined by RCW 9A.84.040. 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.84.040.
What is the penalty for false reporting in Washington?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (False reporting in the first degree — The report was made with reckless disregard for the safety of others, caused an emergency response, and death was sustained by any person as a proximate result of that emergency response.; 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 (False reporting in the first degree — The report was made with reckless disregard for the safety of others, caused an emergency response, and death was sustained by any person as a proximate result of that emergency response.; 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 (False reporting in the second degree — The report was made with reckless disregard for the safety of others, caused an emergency response, and substantial bodily harm was sustained by any person as a proximate result of that emergency response.; 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 (False reporting in the second degree — The report was made with reckless disregard for the safety of others, caused an emergency response, and substantial bodily harm was sustained by any person as a proximate result of that emergency response.; 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 (False reporting in the third degree — The person commits false reporting under circumstances not constituting first or second degree false reporting.; 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 (False reporting in the third degree — The person commits false reporting under circumstances not constituting first or second degree false reporting.; 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 false reporting classified in Washington?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| False reporting in the first degree | Class B Felony | The report was made with reckless disregard for the safety of others, caused an emergency response, and death was sustained by any person as a proximate result of that emergency response. | RCW 9A.84.040(2)(a) |
| False reporting in the second degree | Class C Felony | The report was made with reckless disregard for the safety of others, caused an emergency response, and substantial bodily harm was sustained by any person as a proximate result of that emergency response. | RCW 9A.84.040(2)(b) |
| False reporting in the third degree | Gross Misdemeanor | The person commits false reporting under circumstances not constituting first or second degree false reporting. | RCW 9A.84.040(2)(c) |
Common questions about false reporting in Washington
Is false reporting a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
It depends on the circumstances: false reporting ranges from a Gross Misdemeanor to a Class B Felony in Washington under RCW 9A.84.040.
False reporting in the first degree: Class B Felony (RCW 9A.84.040(2)(a)) · False reporting in the second degree: Class C Felony (RCW 9A.84.040(2)(b)) · False reporting in the third degree: Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 9A.84.040(2)(c))
What are the penalties for false reporting in Washington?
Penalties for false reporting in Washington depend on how it is classified — from a Gross Misdemeanor up to a Class B 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 false reporting?
False reporting is governed by RCW 9A.84.040 (False reporting).
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.