Washington legal term
Serious harm in Washington Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Washington legislative session
In Washington criminal law, “Serious harm” 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 “Serious harm” mean in Washington criminal law?
"Serious harm" means any harm, whether physical or nonphysical, including psychological, financial, or reputational harm, that is sufficiently serious, under all the surrounding circumstances, to compel a reasonable person of the same background and in the same circumstances to perform or to continue performing labor, services, or a commercial sex act in order to avoid incurring that harm. (RCW 9A.40.010)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.