Washington § 9A.42.080 - Abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree — Exception.

Full text of Washington Revised Code of Washington § 9A.42.080 — Abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree — Exception., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 9A.42.080. Abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree — Exception.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person is guilty of the crime of abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree if:
(a) The person is the parent of a child, a person entrusted with the physical custody of a child or other dependent person, a person who has assumed the responsibility to provide to a dependent person the basic necessities of life, or a person employed to provide to the child or dependent person any of the basic necessities of life; and
(b) The person recklessly abandons the child or other dependent person; and:
(i) As a result of being abandoned, the child or other dependent person suffers bodily harm; or
(ii) Abandoning the child or other dependent person creates an imminent and substantial risk that the child or other person will suffer substantial bodily harm.
(2) A parent of a newborn who transfers the newborn to a qualified person at an appropriate location pursuant to RCW 13.34.360 is not subject to criminal liability under this section.
(3) Abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree is a gross misdemeanor.
[ 2006 c 228 s 8; 2002 c 331 s 5; 1996 c 302 s 4.]

Notes

Intent—Effective date—2002 c 331: See notes following RCW 13.34.360.
Severability—1996 c 302: See note following RCW 9A.42.010.

Source: official Washington text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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What does Revised Code of Washington § 9A.42.080 cover?

Section 9A.42.080 ("Abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree — Exception.") is part of the Revised Code of Washington, the codified statutory law of Washington. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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