Washington legal term
Physical restraint in Washington Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Washington legislative session
In Washington criminal law, “Physical 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 “Physical restraint” mean in Washington criminal law?
"Physical restraint" means the use of any bodily force or physical intervention to control a juvenile offender or limit a juvenile offender's freedom of movement in a way that does not involve a mechanical restraint. (RCW 13.40.020)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.