Washington Robbery Laws

Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 26, 2018

Many crimes fall into the category of either crimes against the person or property crimes. But robbery is a hybrid of these two categories, since it's a property crime that's committed in the presence of the victim. While most states have their own definition of robbery, some follow the common law definition of robbery.

In Washington, robbery occurs when a person unlawfully takes someone else's personal property from their person. It's also a robbery if a person takes someone else's property in their presence by using or threatening to use immediate violence, force, or fear of injury to that or any other person or their property.

Summary of Washington Robbery Laws

It's important to read the actual language of a statute when conducting legal research. But trying to interpret and understand statutes written in "legalese" can take more time than you'd like to spend. That's why reading a summary of the laws in plain English can be helpful in finding the answer to your questions about the law. Below you'll find key provisions of Washington robbery laws and links to relevant statutes.

Statute(s)	Washington Revised Code: Section 9A.56.190 (Robbery - Definition) Section 9A.56.200 (Robbery in the First Degree) Section 9A.56.210 (Robbery in the Second Degree)
Degrees of Robbery	Robbery in the First Degree: (1) a robbery that's committed against a financial institution; or (2) a robbery that's committed where, during the commission of the robbery or while fleeing after the robbery, the robber: Is armed with a deadly weapon; Displays something that appears to be a firearm or other deadly weapon; or Inflicts bodily injury. Robbery in the Second Degree: all other robberies that are not first degree robberies.
Charges and Penalties	Robbery in the First Degree is a class A felony punishable by a maximum of life in prison and/or a maximum fine of $50,000. Robbery in the Second Degree is a class B felony punishable by a maximum prison term of 10 years and/or a maximum fine of $20,000.
Related Statute(s)	Washington Revised Code: Section 9A.20.021 (Maximum Sentences) Section 9A.56.020 (Theft - Definition and Defense) Section 9A.56.030 (Theft in the First Degree) Section 9A.56.040 (Theft in the Second Degree) Section 9A.56.050 (Theft in the Third Degree)

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.