Murder in Washington state law

Murder in Washington state law constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Washington.

In the state of Washington, a person may be convicted of first-degree murder when there is a premeditated intent to cause the death of another person. Murder in the first-degree is a class A felony in the state of Washington.^[1] If a person is convicted of first-degree murder, they will not receive anything lower than life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.^[2]

The offender can be charged with aggravated first-degree murder if he commits first-degree murder and have an aggravating circumstance, such as if the individual murders a public safety official, such as a police officer, firefighter, or paramedic.^[3]

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in the year 2020, the state had a murder rate well below the median for the entire country.^[4]

Felony murder rule

In the state of Washington, the common law felony murder rule is codified at Revised Code of Washington §§ 9A.32.030(c) and 9A.32.050(b).

First degree felony murder

First degree felony murder is defined as a homicide committed by a participant against someone other than another participant, who is committing or attempting to commit (including during immediate flight from the crime) one of the following crimes: (1) robbery in the first or second degree, (2) rape in the first or second degree, (3) burglary in the first degree, (4) arson in the first or second degree, or (5) kidnapping in the first or second degree.^[5]

Second degree felony murder

Second degree felony murder committed in the course of a felony not listed under first degree felony murder and in furtherance of such crime and causes the death of a person other than one of the participants.^[5]

Penalties

Offense	Mandatory sentence
Second-degree manslaughter	Up to 10 years in prison
Controlled substance homicide	Up to 10 years in prison
First-degree manslaughter	Up to life-with-parole after 13+1⁄3 years
Homicide by abuse
Second-degree murder
First-degree murder	Life-with-parole after 20 years
Aggravated first-degree murder	Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole

References

^ "RCW 9A.32.030: Murder in the first degree". Apps.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
^ "RCW 9A.32.040: Murder in the first degree – Sentence". Apps.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
^ "RCW 10.95.020: Definition". Apps.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
^ "National Center for Health Statistics: Homicide Mortality by State". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 16, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "RCW 9A.32.030(b)". Retrieved March 5, 2012.

[1] "RCW 9A.32.030: Murder in the first degree". Apps.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved June 25, 2010.

[2] "RCW 9A.32.040: Murder in the first degree – Sentence". Apps.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved June 25, 2010.

[3] "RCW 10.95.020: Definition". Apps.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved June 25, 2010.

[4] "National Center for Health Statistics: Homicide Mortality by State". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 16, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.

[WAmurder-5] "RCW 9A.32.030(b)". Retrieved March 5, 2012.

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