Washington legal term
Custody in Washington Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Washington legislative session
In Washington criminal law, “Custody” 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 “Custody” mean in Washington criminal law?
"Custody" means restraint pursuant to a lawful arrest or an order of a court, or any period of service on a work crew: PROVIDED, That custody pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW and RCW * 74.13.020 and 74.13.031 and chapter 13.32A RCW shall not be deemed custody for purposes of this chapter; (3) "Detention facility" means any place used for the confinement of a person (a) arrested for, charged with or convicted of an offense, or (b) charged with being or adjudicated to be a juvenile offender as defined in RCW 13.40.020 as now existing or hereafter amended, or (c) held for extradition or as a materia (RCW 9A.76.010)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Abandonment of a dependent person in the first degree
- Abandonment of a dependent person in the second degree
- Abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree
- Child selling
- Court-ordered requirements upon person charged with crime
- Criminal mistreatment in the first degree
- Criminal mistreatment in the fourth degree
- Criminal mistreatment in the second degree
- Criminal mistreatment in the third degree
- Custodial interference in the first degree
- Custodial interference in the second degree
- Custodial sexual misconduct in the first degree
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.