Washington legal term
Chemical restraint in Washington Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Washington legislative session
In Washington criminal law, “Chemical restraint” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Washington criminal code.
What does “Chemical restraint” mean in Washington criminal law?
"Chemical restraint" means the administration of any drug to manage a vulnerable adult's behavior in a way that reduces the safety risk to the vulnerable adult or others, has the temporary effect of restricting the vulnerable adult's freedom of movement, and is not standard treatment for the vulnerable adult's medical or psychiatric condition. (RCW 7.105.010)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.