Washington legal term
Consent in Washington Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Washington legislative session
In Washington criminal law, “Consent” 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 “Consent” mean in Washington criminal law?
"Consent" means that at the time of the act of sexual intercourse or sexual contact there are actual words or conduct indicating freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse or sexual contact. (RCW 9A.44.010)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Application
- Commercial sexual abuse of a minor
- Custodial sexual misconduct in the first degree
- Custodial sexual misconduct in the second degree
- Defrauding a public utility in the third degree
- Disarming a law enforcement or corrections officer
- Fraudulent creation or revocation of a mental health advance directive
- Impersonating a census taker
- Indecent liberties
- Luring
- Permitting commercial sexual abuse of a minor
- Possessing, or reading or capturing, information contained on another person's identification document
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.