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Washington statute

RCW 9A.36.021 — Assault in the second degree

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Chapter 9A.36: Assault—Physical Harm, Revised Code of Washington.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of RCW 9A.36.021

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 9A.36.021Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
(1) A person is guilty of assault in the second degree if he or she, under circumstances not amounting to assault in the first degree: (a) Intentionally assaults another and thereby recklessly inflicts substantial bodily harm; or (b) Intentionally and unlawfully causes substantial bodily harm to an unborn quick child by intentionally and unlawfully inflicting any injury upon the mother of such child; or (c) Assaults another with a deadly weapon; or (d) With intent to inflict bodily harm, administers to or causes to be taken by another, poison or any other destructive or noxious substance; or (e) With intent to commit a felony, assaults another; or (f) Knowingly inflicts bodily harm which by design causes such pain or agony as to be the equivalent of that produced by torture; or (g) Assaults another by strangulation or suffocation. (2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, assault in the second degree is a class B felony. (b) Assault in the second degree with a finding of sexual motivation under RCW 9.94A.835 or 13.40.135 is a class A felony.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is assault in the second degree a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?

It depends on the circumstances: assault in the second degree ranges from a Class B Felony to a Class A Felony in Washington under RCW 9A.36.021.

Second degree assault (general): Class B Felony (RCW 9A.36.021(2)(a)) · Second degree assault with sexual motivation finding: Class A Felony (RCW 9A.36.021(2)(b))

Which Washington statute covers assault in the second degree?

Assault in the second degree is governed by RCW 9A.36.021 (Assault in the second degree).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.