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Criminal Statutes of Limitations
Washington

Last Updated: 2026
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Rape, first degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. The time limit is within 20 years after commission of the offense; or
  2. If (i) the victim is under the age of 16, or (ii) the perpetrator is a first responder as defined in Wash. Rev. Code § 70.54.430 and if the first responder used the first responder's position to facilitate the commission of the offense, there is no time limit.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.040.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Rape, second degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. The time limit is within 20 years after commission of the offense; or
  2. If (i) the victim is under the age of 16, or (ii) the perpetrator is a first responder as defined in Wash. Rev. Code § 70.54.430 and if the first responder used the first responder's position to facilitate the commission of the offense, there is no time limit.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.050.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Rape, third degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. The time limit is within ten years after commission of the offense.
  2. If the perpetrator is a first responder as defined in Wash. Rev. Code § 70.54.430 and if the first responder used the first responder's position to facilitate the commission of the offense, there is no time limit.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.060.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Rape of a child, first degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. There is no time limit for this crime. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.073.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Rape of a child, second degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. There is no time limit for this crime.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.076.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Rape of a child, third degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. There is no time limit for this crime.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.079.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Child molestation, first degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. There is no time limit for this crime. 

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.083.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Child molestation, second degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. There is no time limit for this crime.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.086.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Child molestation, third degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. There is no time limit for this crime.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.089.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Sexual misconduct with a minor, first degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. There is no time limit for this crime.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.093.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Sexual misconduct with a minor, second degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. The time limit is within two years after commission of the offense.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.096.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Indecent liberties Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?

1.         The time limit is within 20 years after commission of the offense.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.100.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Custodial sexual misconduct, first degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. There is no time limit for this crime.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.160.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Custodial sexual misconduct, second degree Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. The time limit is within three years after commission of the offense.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.44.170.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Incest Answer

What is the statute of limitations for this crime?
  1. The time limit is within ten years after commission of the offense; or
  2. If the offense is committed against a victim under the age of 18, it may be prosecuted up to the day the victim turns 30, whichever is later.

Statutory citation(s):
  1. Citation for the crime: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.64.020.
  2. Citation for the statute of limitations: Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080.





Are there any exceptions to the statute of limitations laws? Answer
Exceptions
  • Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.04.080 Limitations of actions:
    • The limitations periods does not run during any time when the person is not usually and publicly a resident within the state.
    • If during a limitations period an indictment has been found or a complaint or information has been filed, and then any of these are set aside, then the limitations period is extended by a period equal to the length of the time from the finding or filing to the setting aside.
    • For any sex offense enumerated in § 9.94A.030, the periods of limitation prescribed in subsection (1) of § 9A.04.080 run from the date of commission or four years from the date on which the identity of the suspect is conclusively established by deoxyribonucleic acid testing or by photograph as defined in RCW 9.68A.011, whichever is later.
    • State v. McConnell 178 Wash. App. 592 (2013). 
      • (1) Identity of suspect not “conclusively established” until DNA testing matches the DNA profile of an unknown suspect to the DNA profile of a known suspect;
      • (2) State’s 13-year delay in filing rape charges did not violate defendant’s due process rights.





Anything else I should know? Answer
Anything else I should know?
  • N/A