RULE 2.1
             THE INDICTMENT AND THE INFORMATION

    (a) Use of Indictment or Information. The initial pleading by the State
shall be an indictment or an information in all criminal proceedings filed
by the prosecuting attorney.
    (1) Nature. The indictment or the information shall be a plain, concise
and definite written statement of the essential facts constituting the
offense charged. It shall be signed by the prosecuting attorney.
Allegations made in one count may be incorporated by reference in another
count. It may be alleged that the means by which the defendant committed
the offense are unknown or that the defendant committed it by one or more
specified means. The indictment or information shall state for each count
the official or customary citation of the statute, rule, regulation or
other provision of law which the defendant is alleged therein to have
violated. Error in the citation or its omission shall not be ground for
dismissal of the indictment or information or for reversal of a conviction
if the error or omission did not mislead the defendant to the defendant's
prejudice.
    (2) Contents.  The indictment or the information shall contain or have
attached to it the following information when filed with the court:
    (i) the name, address, date of birth, and sex of the defendant;
    (ii) all known personal identification numbers for the defendant,
including the Washington driver's operating license (DOL) number, the state
criminal identification (SID) number, the state criminal process control
number (PCN), the JUVIS control number, and the Washington Department of
Corrections (DOC) number.
    (b) Surplusage. The court on motion of the defendant may strike
surplusage from the indictment or information.
    (c) Bill of Particulars. The court may direct the filing of a bill of
particulars. A motion for a bill of particulars may be made before
arraignment or within 10 days after arraignment or at such later time as
the court may permit.
    (d) Amendment. The court may permit any information or bill of
particulars to be amended at any time before verdict or finding if
substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced.
    (e) Defendant's Criminal History. Upon the filing of an indictment or
information charging a felony, the prosecuting attorney shall request a
copy of the defendant's criminal history, as defined in RCW 9.94A.030, from
the Washington State Patrol Identification and Criminal History Section.

                          Comment
    Supersedes RCW 10.37.020, .025, .026, .035, .180; RCW 10.40.080; RCW
10.46.170. The purpose of section (f) is to ensure that the defendant's
criminal history is available when and if the court is required to
determine the validity of a plea agreement.