Juvenile firearm sentencing

AN ACT Relating to modifying sentencing standards for juvenile 1
firearm offenses; and amending RCW 13.40.0357. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 13.40.0357 and 2023 c 295 s 8 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
6 DESCRIPTION AND OFFENSE CATEGORY
7
8
9
10
11
JUVENILE
DISPOSITION
OFFENSE
CATEGORY DESCRIPTION (RCW CITATION)
JUVENILE DISPOSITION
CATEGORY FOR
ATTEMPT, BAILJUMP,
CONSPIRACY , OR
SOLICITATION
12 Arson and Malicious Mischief
13 A Arson 1 (9A.48.020) B+
14 B Arson 2 (9A.48.030) C
15 C Reckless Burning 1 (9A.48.040) D
16 D Reckless Burning 2 (9A.48.050) E
17 B Malicious Mischief 1 (9A.48.070) C
18 C Malicious Mischief 2 (9A.48.080) D
19 D Malicious Mischief 3 (9A.48.090) E
S-0374.1
SENATE BILL 5257
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Christian, Braun, and Fortunato
Read first time 01/14/25. Referred to Committee on Human Services.
p. 1 SB 5257
1
2
E Tampering with Fire Alarm
Apparatus (9.40.100)
E
3
4
5
E Tampering with Fire Alarm
Apparatus with Intent to Commit
Arson (9.40.105)
E
6
7
A Possession of Incendiary Device
(9.40.120)
B+
8
9
Assault and Other Crimes
Involving Physical Harm

10 A Assault 1 (9A.36.011) B+
11 B+ Assault 2 (9A.36.021) C+
12 C+ Assault 3 (9A.36.031) D+
13 D+ Assault 4 (9A.36.041) E
14
15
B+ Drive-By Shooting (9A.36.045)
committed at age 15 or under
C+
16
17
A++ Drive-By Shooting (9A.36.045)
committed at age 16 or 17
A
18
19
D+ Reckless Endangerment
(9A.36.050)
E
20
21
C+ Promoting Suicide Attempt
(9A.36.060)
D+
22 D+ Coercion (9A.36.070) E
23 C+ Custodial Assault (9A.36.100) D+
24 Burglary and Trespass
25
26
27
B+ Burglary 1 (9A.52.020) committed
at
age 15 or under
C+
28
29
30
A- Burglary 1 (9A.52.020) committed
at
age 16 or 17
B+
31 B Residential Burglary (9A.52.025) C
32 B Burglary 2 (9A.52.030) C
33
34
D Burglary Tools (Possession of)
(9A.52.060)
E
35 D Criminal Trespass 1 (9A.52.070) E
36 E Criminal Trespass 2 (9A.52.080) E
37 C Mineral Trespass (78.44.330) C
p. 2 SB 5257
1 C Vehicle Prowling 1 (9A.52.095) D
2 D Vehicle Prowling 2 (9A.52.100) E
3 Drugs
4
5
E Possession/Consumption of
Alcohol (66.44.270)
E
6
7
C Illegally Obtaining Legend Drug
(69.41.020)
D
8
9
10
C+ Sale, Delivery, Possession of
Legend Drug with Intent to Sell
(69.41.030(2)(a))
D+
11
12
E Possession of Legend
Drug (69.41.030(2)(b))
E
13
14
15
16
17
B+ Violation of Uniform Controlled
Substances Act - Narcotic,
Methamphetamine, or
Flunitrazepam Sale (69.50.401(2)
(a) or (b))
B+
18
19
20
C Violation of Uniform Controlled
Substances Act - Nonnarcotic Sale
(69.50.401(2)(c))
C
21
22
E Possession of Cannabis <40 grams
(69.50.4014)
E
23
24
C Fraudulently Obtaining Controlled
Substance (69.50.403)
C
25
26
C+ Sale of Controlled Substance for
Profit (69.50.410)
C+
27 E Unlawful Inhalation (9.47A.020) E
28
29
30
31
32
33
B Violation of Uniform Controlled
Substances Act - Narcotic,
Methamphetamine, or
Flunitrazepam Counterfeit
Substances (69.50.4011(2) (a) or
(b))
B
34
35
36
37
C Violation of Uniform Controlled
Substances Act - Nonnarcotic
Counterfeit Substances
(69.50.4011(2) (c), (d), or (e))
C
p. 3 SB 5257
1
2
3
E Violation of Uniform Controlled
Substances Act - Possession of a
Controlled Substance (69.50.4013)
E
4
5
6
C Violation of Uniform Controlled
Substances Act - Possession of a
Controlled Substance (69.50.4012)
C
7 Firearms and Weapons
8 B++ Theft of Firearm (9A.56.300) ((C)) B
9
10
B++ Possession of Stolen Firearm
(9A.56.310)
((C)) B
11
12
((E)) D Carrying Loaded Pistol Without
Permit (9.41.050)
((E)) D
13
14
((C)) B+ Possession of Firearms by Minor
(<18) (9.41.040(2)(a) (v))
((C)) B+
15
16
((D+)) C+Possession of Dangerous Weapon
(9.41.250)
((E)) D
17
18
D+ Intimidating Another Person by
use of Weapon (9.41.270)
((E)) D
19 Homicide
20 A+ Murder 1 (9A.32.030) A
21 A+ Murder 2 (9A.32.050) B+
22 B+ Manslaughter 1 (9A.32.060) C+
23 C+ Manslaughter 2 (9A.32.070) D+
24 B+ Vehicular Homicide (46.61.520) C+
25 Kidnapping
26 A Kidnap 1 (9A.40.020) B+
27 B+ Kidnap 2 (9A.40.030) C+
28
29
C+ Unlawful Imprisonment
(9A.40.040)
D+
30
31
Obstructing Governmental
Operation

32
33
D Obstructing a Law Enforcement
Officer (9A.76.020)
E
34 E Resisting Arrest (9A.76.040) E
35
36
B Introducing Contraband 1
(9A.76.140)
C
p. 4 SB 5257
1
2
C Introducing Contraband 2
(9A.76.150)
D
3
4
E Introducing Contraband 3
(9A.76.160)
E
5
6
B+ Intimidating a Public Servant
(9A.76.180)
C+
7
8
B+ Intimidating a Witness
(9A.72.110)
C+
9 Public Disturbance
10
11
C+ Criminal Mischief with Weapon
(9A.84.010(2)(b))
D+
12
13
D+ Criminal Mischief Without
Weapon (9A.84.010(2)(a))
E
14 E Failure to Disperse (9A.84.020) E
15 E Disorderly Conduct (9A.84.030) E
16 Sex Crimes
17 A Rape 1 (9A.44.040) B+
18
19
B++ Rape 2 (9A.44.050) committed at
age 14 or under
B+
20
21
A- Rape 2 (9A.44.050) committed at
age 15 through age 17
B+
22 C+ Rape 3 (9A.44.060) D+
23
24
B++ Rape of a Child 1 (9A.44.073)
committed at age 14 or under
B+
25
26
A- Rape of a Child 1 (9A.44.073)
committed at age 15
B+
27 B+ Rape of a Child 2 (9A.44.076) C+
28 B Incest 1 (9A.64.020(1)) C
29 C Incest 2 (9A.64.020(2)) D
30
31
D+ Indecent Exposure (Victim <14)
(9A.88.010)
E
32
33
E Indecent Exposure (Victim 14 or
over) (9A.88.010)
E
34
35
B+ Promoting Prostitution 1
(9A.88.070)
C+
36
37
C+ Promoting Prostitution 2
(9A.88.080)
D+
p. 5 SB 5257
1 E O & A (Prostitution) (9A.88.030) E
2 B+ Indecent Liberties (9A.44.100) C+
3
4
B++ Child Molestation 1 (9A.44.083)
committed at age 14 or under
B+
5
6
7
A- Child Molestation 1 (9A.44.083)
committed at age 15 through age
17
B+
8 B Child Molestation 2 (9A.44.086) C+
9
10
C Failure to Register as a Sex
Offender (9A.44.132)
D
11
12
Theft, Robbery, Extortion, and
Forgery

13 B Theft 1 (9A.56.030) C
14 C Theft 2 (9A.56.040) D
15 D Theft 3 (9A.56.050) E
16
17
B Theft of Livestock 1 and 2
(9A.56.080 and 9A.56.083)
C
18 C Forgery (9A.60.020) D
19
20
21
A Robbery 1 (9A.56.200) committed
at
age 15 or under
B+
22
23
24
A++ Robbery 1 (9A.56.200) committed
at
age 16 or 17
A
25 B+ Robbery 2 (9A.56.210) C+
26 B+ Extortion 1 (9A.56.120) C+
27 C+ Extortion 2 (9A.56.130) D+
28 C Identity Theft 1 (9.35.020(2)) D
29 D Identity Theft 2 (9.35.020(3)) E
30
31
D Improperly Obtaining Financial
Information (9.35.010)
E
32
33
B Possession of a Stolen Vehicle
(9A.56.068)
C
34
35
B Possession of Stolen Property 1
(9A.56.150)
C
36
37
C Possession of Stolen Property 2
(9A.56.160)
D
p. 6 SB 5257
1
2
D Possession of Stolen Property 3
(9A.56.170)
E
3
4
B Taking Motor Vehicle Without
Permission 1 (9A.56.070)
C
5
6
C Taking Motor Vehicle Without
Permission 2 (9A.56.075)
D
7
8
B Theft of a Motor Vehicle
(9A.56.065)
C
9 Motor Vehicle Related Crimes
10
11
E Driving Without a License
(46.20.005)
E
12
13
B+ Hit and Run - Death
(46.52.020(4)(a))
C+
14
15
C Hit and Run - Injury
(46.52.020(4)(b))
D
16
17
D Hit and Run-Attended
(46.52.020(5))
E
18
19
E Hit and Run-Unattended
(46.52.010)
E
20 C Vehicular Assault (46.61.522) D
21
22
C Attempting to Elude Pursuing
Police Vehicle (46.61.024)
D
23 E Reckless Driving (46.61.500) E
24
25
26
D Driving While Under the
Influence (46.61.502 and
46.61.504)
E
27
28
B+ Felony Driving While Under the
Influence (46.61.502(6))
B
29
30
31
B+ Felony Physical Control of a
Vehicle While Under the Influence
(46.61.504(6))
B
32 Other
33 B Animal Cruelty 1 (16.52.205) C
34 B Bomb Threat (9.61.160) C
35 C Escape 11 (9A.76.110) C
36 C Escape 21 (9A.76.120) C
37 D Escape 3 (9A.76.130) E
p. 7 SB 5257
1
2
E Obscene, Harassing, Etc., Phone
Calls (9.61.230)
E
3
4
A Other Offense Equivalent to an
Adult Class A Felony
B+
5
6
B Other Offense Equivalent to an
Adult Class B Felony
C
7
8
C Other Offense Equivalent to an
Adult Class C Felony
D
9
10
D Other Offense Equivalent to an
Adult Gross Misdemeanor
E
11
12
E Other Offense Equivalent to an
Adult Misdemeanor
E
13
14
15
V Violation of Order of Restitution,
Community Supervision, or
Confinement (13.40.200)2
V
1Escape 1 and 2 and Attempted Escape 1 and 2 are classed as C offenses 16
and the standard range is established as follows: 17
1st escape or attempted escape during 12-month period - 28 days 18
confinement 19
2nd escape or attempted escape during 12-month period - 8 weeks 20
confinement 21
3rd and subsequent escape or attempted escape during 12-month 22
period - 12 weeks confinement 23
2If the court finds that a respondent has violated terms of an order, 24
it may impose a penalty of up to 30 days of confinement.25
JUVENILE SENTENCING STANDARDS26
This schedule must be used for juvenile offenders. The court may 27
select sentencing option A, B, C, or D. 28
29
30
31
OPTION A
JUVENILE OFFENDER SENTENCING GRID
STANDARD RANGE
32 A++ 129 to 260 weeks for all category A++ offenses
33 A+ 180 weeks to age 21 for all category A+ offenses
34 A 103-129 weeks for all category A offenses
p. 8 SB 5257
1 A- 30-40 weeks 52-65 weeks 80-100 weeks 103-129 weeks 103-129 weeks
2 B++ 15-36 weeks 52-65 weeks 80-100 weeks 103-129 weeks 103-129 weeks
3 CURRENT B+ 15-36 weeks 15-36 weeks 52-65 weeks 80-100 weeks 103-129 weeks
4 OFFENSE B LS LS 15-36 weeks 15-36 weeks 52-65 weeks
5 CATEGORY C+ LS LS LS 15-36 weeks 15-36 weeks
6 C LS LS LS LS 15-36 weeks
7 D+ LS LS LS LS LS
8 D LS LS LS LS LS
9 E LS LS LS LS LS
10 PRIOR 0 1 2 3 4 or more
11 ADJUDICATIONS
NOTE: References in the grid to days or weeks mean periods of 12
confinement. "LS" means "local sanctions" as defined in RCW 13
13.40.020. 14
(1) The vertical axis of the grid is the current offense 15
category. The current offense category is determined by the offense 16
of adjudication. 17
(2) The horizontal axis of the grid is the number of prior 18
adjudications included in the juvenile's criminal history. Each prior 19
felony adjudication shall count as one point. Each prior violation, 20
misdemeanor, and gross misdemeanor adjudication shall count as 1/4 21
point. Fractional points shall be rounded down. 22
(3) The standard range disposition for each offense is determined 23
by the intersection of the column defined by the prior adjudications 24
and the row defined by the current offense category.25
(4) RCW 13.40.180 applies if the offender is being sentenced for 26
more than one offense. 27
(5) A current offense that is a violation is equivalent to an 28
offense category of E. However, a disposition for a violation shall 29
not include confinement. 30
OR31
OPTION B32
SUSPENDED DISPOSITION ALTERNATIVE33
(1) If the offender is subject to a standard range disposition 34
involving confinement by the department, the court may impose the 35
p. 9 SB 5257
standard range and suspend the disposition on condition that the 1
offender comply with one or more local sanctions and any educational 2
or treatment requirement. The treatment programs provided to the 3
offender must be either research-based best practice programs as 4
identified by the Washington state institute for public policy or the 5
joint legislative audit and review committee, or for chemical 6
dependency treatment programs or services, they must be evidence-7
based or research-based best practice programs. For the purposes of 8
this subsection: 9
(a) "Evidence-based" means a program or practice that has had 10
multiple site random controlled trials across heterogeneous 11
populations demonstrating that the program or practice is effective 12
for the population; and 13
(b) "Research-based" means a program or practice that has some 14
research demonstrating effectiveness, but that does not yet meet the 15
standard of evidence-based practices. 16
(2) If the offender fails to comply with the suspended 17
disposition, the court may impose sanctions pursuant to RCW 13.40.200 18
or may revoke the suspended disposition and order the disposition's 19
execution. 20
(3) An offender is ineligible for the suspended disposition 21
option under this section if the offender: 22
(a) Is adjudicated of an A+ or A++ offense; 23
(b) Is fourteen years of age or older and is adjudicated of one 24
or more of the following offenses: 25
(i) A class A offense, or an attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation 26
to commit a class A offense; 27
(ii) Manslaughter in the first degree (RCW 9A.32.060);28
(iii) Assault in the second degree (RCW 9A.36.021), extortion in 29
the first degree (RCW 9A.56.120), kidnapping in the second degree 30
(RCW 9A.40.030), drive-by shooting (RCW 9A.36.045), vehicular 31
homicide (RCW 46.61.520), hit and run death (RCW 46.52.020(4)(a)), 32
((or)) manslaughter 2 (RCW 9A.32.070), unlawful possession of a 33
firearm in the first or second degree (RCW 9.41.040), theft of a 34
firearm (RCW 9A.56.300), or possession of a stolen firearm 35
(9A.56.310); or 36
(iv) Violation of the uniform controlled substances act (RCW 37
69.50.401(2) (a) and (b)), when the offense includes infliction of 38
bodily harm upon another or when during the commission or immediate 39
p. 10 SB 5257
withdrawal from the offense the respondent was armed with a deadly 1
weapon; 2
(c) Is ordered to serve a disposition for a firearm violation 3
under RCW 13.40.193; 4
(d) Is adjudicated of a sex offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030; 5
or 6
(e) Has a prior option B disposition. 7
OR8
OPTION C9
CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY/MENTAL HEALTH DISPOSITION ALTERNATIVE10
If the juvenile offender is subject to a standard range 11
disposition of local sanctions or 15 to 36 weeks of confinement and 12
has not committed a B++ or B+ offense, the court may impose a 13
disposition under RCW 13.40.160(4) and 13.40.165. 14
OR15
OPTION D16
MANIFEST INJUSTICE17
If the court determines that a disposition under option A, B, or C 18
would effectuate a manifest injustice, the court shall impose a 19
disposition outside the standard range under RCW 13.40.160(2).20
--- END ---
p. 11 SB 5257