Washington statute
RCW 9A.76.120 — Escape in the second degree
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Chapter 9A.76: Obstructing Governmental Operation, Revised Code of Washington.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of RCW 9A.76.120
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.
(1) A person is guilty of escape in the second degree if:
(a) He or she knowingly escapes from a detention facility; or
(b) Having been charged with a felony or an equivalent juvenile offense, he or she knowingly escapes from custody; or
(c) Having been committed under chapter 10.77 RCW for a sex, violent, or felony harassment offense and being under an order of conditional release, he or she knowingly leaves or remains absent from the state of Washington without prior court authorization.
(2) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that uncontrollable circumstances prevented the person from remaining in custody or in the detention facility or from returning to custody or to the detention facility, and that the person did not contribute to the creation of such circumstances in reckless disregard of the requirement to remain or return, and that the person returned to custody or the detention facility as soon as such circumstances ceased to exist.
(3) Escape in the second degree is a class C felony.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is escape in the second degree a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
Escape in the second degree is a Class C Felony in Washington under RCW 9A.76.120.
Which Washington statute covers escape in the second degree?
Escape in the second degree is governed by RCW 9A.76.120 (Escape in the second degree).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.