Statute of Limitations for Class D / 4th Degree Felony in Washington

Overview

Washington’s statute of limitations sets a hard deadline for when the State must start a criminal prosecution after an alleged offense. For a Class D felony / “4th degree felony” case, the baseline rule is generally 5 years. That means the charging information must be filed within that timeframe (subject to exceptions and specific procedural rules that can affect timing).

This page is written to help you understand the moving parts in Washington (US-WA) and to show how DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator changes its output based on the exception that may apply. It’s not legal advice—criminal procedure timelines can also be affected by case-specific events (for example, tolling or amendments), so use this as a structured guide rather than a guarantee.

Limitation period

Baseline: 5 years for Class D / 4th degree felony

For the standard limitation period, Washington uses RCW 9A.04.080. For a typical Class D felony, the default statute of limitations period is 5 years.

How to think about the deadline

• Start point: typically tied to when the offense was committed (the precise trigger can depend on the statute and facts).
• End point: when the prosecution is commenced—often understood practically as when the charging document is filed.

Because statute-of-limitations questions often turn on the exact date used as the “start,” DocketMath focuses on user-provided dates and whether an exception shortens the period.

What changes the output in DocketMath

DocketMath’s calculator is designed around two key inputs:

1. Date of offense
2. **Which statute-of-limitations exception applies (if any)

With only the baseline rule, the calculator will treat the limitation period as 5 years. If you select an exception that applies, the calculator will reduce the period accordingly.

Quick timeline example (baseline)

If an alleged Class D felony occurred on January 15, 2020, the baseline 5-year limitation would generally project to around January 15, 2025 (subject to the legal nuances of “commencement” and how dates are counted in the specific procedural posture).

If an exception applies and shortens the period, the projected end date will move earlier.

Key exceptions

Washington’s statute-of-limitations framework includes statutory exceptions that can shorten the limitation period from the baseline. In DocketMath, these exceptions are represented as specific sub-rules tied to RCW 9A.04.080.

Below are the exceptions you should look for when the charge may fall under a special limitations rule:

Exception 1: RCW 9A.04.080 — 5 years — exception P1

• Period: 5 years
• Rule reference: RCW 9A.04.080 — 5 years — exception P1

This is not a shortening exception—it confirms that certain circumstances still operate under the 5-year regime even when you’re checking for an exception.

Practical effect in the calculator: selecting this exception should not change the limitation period from the baseline; it keeps the result at 5 years.

Exception 2: RCW 9A.04.080(1)(j) — 3 years — exception V1

• Period: 3 years
• Rule reference: RCW 9A.04.080(1)(j) — 3 years — exception V1

This is a shortening exception. If your alleged conduct fits the criteria in RCW 9A.04.080(1)(j), the limitations window becomes 3 years rather than 5.

Practical effect in the calculator: choosing this option reduces the expiration date by 2 years compared to the baseline.

Exception 3: null — 3 years — exception V2

• Period: 3 years
• Rule reference: null — 3 years — exception V2

This option represents another 3-year pathway within the DocketMath exception set. The calculator treats it as a 3-year limitation rule tied to how the tool categorizes exception coverage.

Practical effect in the calculator: selecting V2 moves the end date earlier to reflect a 3-year limitation period.

Summary table: how exceptions affect the limitation period

Statute citation

Washington’s statute of limitations rules for felonies (including the baseline periods used for different felony classes) are found in:

• RCW 9A.04.080 — Washington’s limitation periods for criminal prosecutions (includes the 5-year baseline for relevant felony categories and shorter sub-rules such as RCW 9A.04.080(1)(j)).

In this Class D / 4th degree felony context, the DocketMath parameters reflect:

• SOL Period: 5 years
• RCW 9A.04.080 — 5 years — exception P1
• RCW 9A.04.080(1)(j) — 3 years — exception V1
• null — 3 years — exception V2

If you’re working from charging paperwork, the key is matching the charge details to the correct RCW category and any enumerated sub-rule.

Use the calculator

You can compute a Washington statute-of-limitations deadline using DocketMath here: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Before you run it, review these practical steps so your inputs match what the tool expects:

Inputs to enter

• Date of offense (the event date you want to measure from)
• Exception selection (choose whether your charge falls under:

  • P1 (still 5 years), or
  • V1 (RCW 9A.04.080(1)(j), 3 years), or
  • V2 (3 years pathway in the tool)

Output expectations

DocketMath’s output will reflect:

• 5-year expiration when the tool applies P1 / baseline RCW 9A.04.080
• 3-year expiration when V1 or V2 is selected

How changing inputs affects results (examples)

• If you enter the same offense date but switch from 5 years to 3 years, the calculator will shift the projected deadline 2 years earlier.
• If you instead keep the same exception but change the date of offense, the deadline moves proportionally based on the chosen SOL period.

If you want to verify the calculation approach or explore the broader workflow, you may also find it helpful to review other DocketMath resources at /tools/statute-of-limitations (and related guides linked below).

Sources and references

Start with the primary authority for Washington and confirm the effective date before relying on any output. If the rule has been amended, update the inputs and rerun the calculation.

• RCW 4.16.080

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — How to choose the right calculator
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — How to choose the right calculator