Washington legal term
Obscene in Washington Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Washington legislative session
In Washington criminal law, “Obscene” 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 “Obscene” mean in Washington criminal law?
"Obscene" means any matter: (a) Which the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find, when considered as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest; (b) Which the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find explicitly depicts or describes patently offensive representations or descriptions of sexually explicit conduct; and (c) Which, when considered as a whole, and in the context in which it is used, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. (RCW 9.68A.011)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.