Washington Criminal Law Flashcards

Washington uses a Sentencing Reform Act (SRA) grid. What are the two axes of the standard range grid?

Answer: Offense seriousness level and offender score

Washington's SRA grid at RCW 9.94A.510 uses offense seriousness level (I–XVI) on one axis and offender score (0–9+) on the other to determine the standard sentence range.

Under RCW 9A.08.010, Washington's 'recklessness' mens rea requires the defendant to:

Answer: Be aware of and disregard a substantial and unjustifiable risk

Washington defines recklessness as consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk that a result will occur or that a circumstance exists.

In Washington, first-degree murder under RCW 9A.32.030 requires which mental state?

Answer: Premeditated intent to cause death

Washington first-degree murder requires premeditated intent to cause the death of another person or the commission of specified felonies with resulting death.

Under Washington's Persistent Offender Accountability Act ('three strikes'), a persistent offender convicted of a third most serious offense receives which sentence?

Answer: Life in prison without possibility of parole

RCW 9.94A.570 mandates life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for persistent offenders convicted of a third most serious offense (three strikes law).

Washington's 'felony murder' doctrine under RCW 9A.32.030(1)(c) imposes murder liability when a death results from:

Answer: One of the enumerated dangerous felonies such as robbery or rape

Washington's felony murder rule applies only when death results from the commission or attempted commission of specified inherently dangerous felonies, not from any felony.

Under Washington law, what is the statute of limitations for prosecuting a class A felony?

Answer: No limitation period

Under RCW 9A.04.080, there is no statute of limitations for class A felonies in Washington — they may be prosecuted at any time.