Washington statute
RCW 9.94.043 — Deadly weapons—Possession on premises by person not a prisoner—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 9.94.043
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.
A person, other than a person serving a sentence in a penal institution of this state, is guilty of possession of contraband on the premises of a state correctional institution in the first degree if, without authorization to do so, the person knowingly possesses or has under his or her control a deadly weapon on or in the buildings or adjacent grounds subject to the care, control, or supervision of a state correctional institution. Deadly weapon is used as defined in RCW 9A.04.110: PROVIDED, That such correctional buildings, grounds, or property are properly posted pursuant to RCW 9.94.047, and such person has knowingly entered thereon: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the provisions of this section do not apply to a person licensed pursuant to RCW 9.41.070 who, upon entering the correctional institution premises, proceeds directly along an access road to the administration building and promptly checks his or her firearm(s) with the appropriate authorities. The person may reclaim his or her firearm(s) upon leaving, but he or she must immediately and directly depart from the premises.
Possession of contraband on the premises of a state correctional institution in the first degree is a class B felony.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is deadly weapons a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
Deadly weapons is a Class B Felony in Washington under RCW 9.94.043.
Which Washington statute covers deadly weapons?
Deadly weapons is governed by RCW 9.94.043 (Deadly weapons—Possession on premises by person not a prisoner—Penalty).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.