Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 9.94A - Sentencing Reform Act of 1981.
9.94A.589 - Consecutive or concurrent sentences.

RCW 9.94A.589
Consecutive or concurrent sentences.

(1)(a) Except as provided in (b), (c), or (d) of this subsection, whenever a person is to be sentenced for two or more current offenses, the sentence range for each current offense shall be determined by using all other current and prior convictions as if they were prior convictions for the purpose of the offender score: PROVIDED, That if the court enters a finding that some or all of the current offenses encompass the same criminal conduct then those current offenses shall be counted as one crime. Sentences imposed under this subsection shall be served concurrently. Consecutive sentences may only be imposed under the exceptional sentence provisions of RCW 9.94A.535. "Same criminal conduct," as used in this subsection, means two or more crimes that require the same criminal intent, are committed at the same time and place, and involve the same victim. This definition applies in cases involving vehicular assault or vehicular homicide even if the victims occupied the same vehicle.
(b) Whenever a person is convicted of two or more serious violent offenses arising from separate and distinct criminal conduct, the standard sentence range for the offense with the highest seriousness level under RCW 9.94A.515 shall be determined using the offender's prior convictions and other current convictions that are not serious violent offenses in the offender score and the standard sentence range for other serious violent offenses shall be determined by using an offender score of zero. The standard sentence range for any offenses that are not serious violent offenses shall be determined according to (a) of this subsection. All sentences imposed under this subsection (1)(b) shall be served consecutively to each other and concurrently with sentences imposed under (a) of this subsection. Even if the court orders the confinement terms to run consecutively to each other, the terms of community custody shall run concurrently to each other, unless the court expressly orders the community custody terms to run consecutively to each other.
(c) If an offender is convicted under RCW 9.41.040 for unlawful possession of a firearm in the first or second degree and for the felony crimes of theft of a firearm or possession of a stolen firearm, or both, the standard sentence range for each of these current offenses shall be determined by using all other current and prior convictions, except other current convictions for the felony crimes listed in this subsection (1)(c), as if they were prior convictions. The offender shall serve consecutive sentences for each conviction of the felony crimes listed in this subsection (1)(c), and for each firearm unlawfully possessed.
(d) All sentences imposed under RCW 46.61.502(6), 46.61.504(6), or 46.61.5055(4) shall be served consecutively to any sentences imposed under RCW 46.20.740 and 46.20.750.
(2)(a) Whenever a person while under sentence for conviction of a felony commits another felony and is sentenced to another term of confinement, the latter term of confinement shall not begin until expiration of all prior terms of confinement. However, any terms of community custody shall run concurrently to each other, unless the court pronouncing the current sentence expressly orders that they be served consecutively.
(b) Whenever a second or later felony conviction results in consecutive community custody with conditions not currently in effect, under the prior sentence or sentences of community custody, the court may require that the conditions of community custody contained in the second or later sentence begin during the immediate term of community custody and continue throughout the duration of the consecutive term of community custody.
(3) Subject to subsections (1) and (2) of this section, whenever a person is sentenced for a felony that was committed while the person was not under sentence for conviction of a felony, the sentence shall run concurrently with any felony sentence which has been imposed by any court in this or another state or by a federal court subsequent to the commission of the crime being sentenced unless the court pronouncing the current sentence expressly orders that the confinement terms be served consecutively to each other. Even if the court orders the confinement terms to run consecutively to each other, the terms of community custody shall run concurrently to each other, unless the court expressly orders the community custody terms to run consecutively to each other.
(4) Whenever any person granted probation under RCW 9.95.210 or 9.92.060, or both, has the probationary sentence revoked and a prison sentence imposed, that sentence shall run consecutively to any sentence imposed pursuant to this chapter, unless the court pronouncing the subsequent sentence expressly orders that they be served concurrently.
(5) In the case of consecutive sentences, all periods of total confinement shall be served before any partial confinement, community restitution, community supervision, or any other requirement or conditions of any of the sentences. Except for exceptional sentences as authorized under RCW 9.94A.535, if two or more sentences that run consecutively include periods of community supervision, the aggregate of the community supervision period shall not exceed twenty-four months.

[ 2020 c 276 § 1; 2015 2nd sp.s. c 3 § 13; 2002 c 175 § 7; 2000 c 28 § 14; 1999 c 352 § 11; 1998 c 235 § 2; 1996 c 199 § 3; 1995 c 167 § 2; 1990 c 3 § 704. Prior: 1988 c 157 § 5; 1988 c 143 § 24; 1987 c 456 § 5; 1986 c 257 § 28; 1984 c 209 § 25; 1983 c 115 § 11. Formerly RCW 9.94A.400.]
NOTES:

Application—2020 c 276: "The department of corrections must recalculate the scheduled end dates for terms of community custody, community supervision, and community placement so that they run concurrently to previously imposed sentences of community custody, community supervision, community placement, probation, and parole, unless the court pronouncing the current sentence has expressly required such terms to run consecutively. This section applies to each offender currently in confinement or under active supervision, regardless of whether the offender is sentenced after June 11, 2020, and regardless of whether the offender's date of offense occurred prior to June 11, 2020, or after." [ 2020 c 276 § 3.]


Legislative declaration—2020 c 276: "The legislature declares that the department of corrections' recalculations of community custody terms pursuant to this act do not create any expectations that a particular community custody term will end before July 1, 2020, and offenders have no reason to conclude that the recalculation of their community custody terms before July 1, 2020, is an entitlement or creates any liberty interest in their community custody term ending before July 1, 2020." [ 2020 c 276 § 4.]


Authority—Implementation—2020 c 276: "The department of corrections has the authority to begin implementing this act upon June 11, 2020." [ 2020 c 276 § 5.]


Retroactive application—2020 c 276: "This act applies retroactively and prospectively, regardless of the date of an offender's underlying offense." [ 2020 c 276 § 6.]


Finding—Intent—2015 2nd sp.s. c 3: See note following RCW 10.21.055.


Effective date—2002 c 175: See note following RCW 7.80.130.


Technical correction bill—2000 c 28: See note following RCW 9.94A.015.


Severability—1996 c 199: See note following RCW 9.94A.505.


Application—1988 c 157: See note following RCW 9.94A.030.


Applicability—1988 c 143 §§ 21-24: See note following RCW 9.94A.505.


Severability—1986 c 257: See note following RCW 9A.56.010.


Effective date—1986 c 257 §§ 17-35: See note following RCW 9.94A.030.


Effective dates—1984 c 209: See note following RCW 9.94A.030.

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