Washington legal term
Statute in Washington Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Washington legislative session
In Washington criminal law, “Statute” 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 “Statute” mean in Washington criminal law?
"Statute" means the Constitution or an act of the legislature or initiative or referendum of this state; (26) "Strangulation" means to compress a person's neck, thereby obstructing the person's blood flow or ability to breathe, or doing so with the intent to obstruct the person's blood flow or ability to breathe; (27) "Suffocation" means to block or impair a person's intake of air at the nose and mouth, whether by smothering or other means, with the intent to obstruct the person's ability to breathe; (28) "Threat" means to communicate, directly or indirectly the intent: (a) To cause bodily inj (RCW 9A.04.110)
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.