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Washington statute

RCW 9.94.040 — Weapons—Possession, etc., by prisoner prohibited—Penalty

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Chapter 9.94: Prisoners—Correctional Institutions, Revised Code of Washington.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of RCW 9.94.040

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the official text of the Revised Code of Washington from the Code Reviser's published files; it is not the official statutes of the State of Washington.

RCW 9.94.040Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
(1) Every person serving a sentence in any state correctional institution who, without legal authorization, while in the institution or while being conveyed to or from the institution, or while under the custody or supervision of institution officials, officers, or employees, or while on any premises subject to the control of the institution, knowingly possesses or carries upon his or her person or has under his or her control any weapon, firearm, or any instrument which, if used, could produce serious bodily injury to the person of another, is guilty of a class B felony. (2) Every person confined in a county or local correctional institution who, without legal authorization, while in the institution or while being conveyed to or from the institution, or while under the custody or supervision of institution officials, officers, or employees, or while on any premises subject to the control of the institution, knowingly possesses or has under his or her control any weapon, firearm, or any instrument that, if used, could produce serious bodily injury to the person of another, is guilty of a class C felony. (3) The sentence imposed under this section shall be in addition to any sentence being served.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is weapons a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?

It depends on the circumstances: weapons ranges from a Class C Felony to a Class B Felony in Washington under RCW 9.94.040.

Possession of weapon by state prison inmate: Class B Felony (RCW 9.94.040(1)) · Possession of weapon by county/local jail inmate: Class C Felony (RCW 9.94.040(2))

Which Washington statute covers weapons?

Weapons is governed by RCW 9.94.040 (Weapons—Possession, etc., by prisoner prohibited—Penalty).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.