RCW 9.94A.535
Departures from the guidelines.

The court may impose a sentence outside the standard sentence range for an offense if it finds, considering the purpose of this chapter, that there are substantial and compelling reasons justifying an exceptional sentence. Whenever a sentence outside the standard sentence range is imposed, the court shall set forth the reasons for its decision in written findings of fact and conclusions of law. A sentence outside the standard sentence range shall be a determinate sentence unless it is imposed on an offender sentenced under RCW 9.94A.712. An exceptional sentence imposed on an offender sentenced under RCW 9.94A.712 shall be to a minimum term set by the court and a maximum term equal to the statutory maximum sentence for the offense of conviction under chapter 9A.20 RCW.

     If the sentencing court finds that an exceptional sentence outside the standard sentence range should be imposed, the sentence is subject to review only as provided for in *RCW 9.94A.585(4).

     A departure from the standards in *RCW 9.94A.589 (1) and (2) governing whether sentences are to be served consecutively or concurrently is an exceptional sentence subject to the limitations in this section, and may be appealed by the offender or the state as set forth in *RCW 9.94A.585 (2) through (6).

     The following are illustrative factors which the court may consider in the exercise of its discretion to impose an exceptional sentence. The following are illustrative only and are not intended to be exclusive reasons for exceptional sentences.

     (1) Mitigating Circumstances

     (a) To a significant degree, the victim was an initiator, willing participant, aggressor, or provoker of the incident.

     (b) Before detection, the defendant compensated, or made a good faith effort to compensate, the victim of the criminal conduct for any damage or injury sustained.

     (c) The defendant committed the crime under duress, coercion, threat, or compulsion insufficient to constitute a complete defense but which significantly affected his or her conduct.

     (d) The defendant, with no apparent predisposition to do so, was induced by others to participate in the crime.

     (e) The defendant's capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his or her conduct, or to conform his or her conduct to the requirements of the law, was significantly impaired. Voluntary use of drugs or alcohol is excluded.

     (f) The offense was principally accomplished by another person and the defendant manifested extreme caution or sincere concern for the safety or well-being of the victim.

     (g) The operation of the multiple offense policy of *RCW 9.94A.589 results in a presumptive sentence that is clearly excessive in light of the purpose of this chapter, as expressed in RCW 9.94A.010.

     (h) The defendant or the defendant's children suffered a continuing pattern of physical or sexual abuse by the victim of the offense and the offense is a response to that abuse.

     (2) Aggravating Circumstances

     (a) The defendant's conduct during the commission of the current offense manifested deliberate cruelty to the victim.

     (b) The defendant knew or should have known that the victim of the current offense was particularly vulnerable or incapable of resistance due to extreme youth, advanced age, disability, or ill health.

     (c) The current offense was a violent offense, and the defendant knew that the victim of the current offense was pregnant.

     (d) The current offense was a major economic offense or series of offenses, so identified by a consideration of any of the following factors:

     (i) The current offense involved multiple victims or multiple incidents per victim;

     (ii) The current offense involved attempted or actual monetary loss substantially greater than typical for the offense;

     (iii) The current offense involved a high degree of sophistication or planning or occurred over a lengthy period of time; or

     (iv) The defendant used his or her position of trust, confidence, or fiduciary responsibility to facilitate the commission of the current offense.

     (e) The current offense was a major violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, chapter 69.50 RCW (VUCSA), related to trafficking in controlled substances, which was more onerous than the typical offense of its statutory definition: The presence of ANY of the following may identify a current offense as a major VUCSA:

     (i) The current offense involved at least three separate transactions in which controlled substances were sold, transferred, or possessed with intent to do so;

     (ii) The current offense involved an attempted or actual sale or transfer of controlled substances in quantities substantially larger than for personal use;

     (iii) The current offense involved the manufacture of controlled substances for use by other parties;

     (iv) The circumstances of the current offense reveal the offender to have occupied a high position in the drug distribution hierarchy;

     (v) The current offense involved a high degree of sophistication or planning, occurred over a lengthy period of time, or involved a broad geographic area of disbursement; or

     (vi) The offender used his or her position or status to facilitate the commission of the current offense, including positions of trust, confidence or fiduciary responsibility (e.g., pharmacist, physician, or other medical professional).

     (f) The current offense included a finding of sexual motivation pursuant to *RCW 9.94A.835.

     (g) The offense was part of an ongoing pattern of sexual abuse of the same victim under the age of eighteen years manifested by multiple incidents over a prolonged period of time.

     (h) The current offense involved domestic violence, as defined in RCW 10.99.020, and one or more of the following was present:

     (i) The offense was part of an ongoing pattern of psychological, physical, or sexual abuse of the victim manifested by multiple incidents over a prolonged period of time;

     (ii) The offense occurred within sight or sound of the victim's or the offender's minor children under the age of eighteen years; or

     (iii) The offender's conduct during the commission of the current offense manifested deliberate cruelty or intimidation of the victim.

     (i) The operation of the multiple offense policy of *RCW 9.94A.589 results in a presumptive sentence that is clearly too lenient in light of the purpose of this chapter, as expressed in RCW 9.94A.010.

     (j) The defendant's prior unscored misdemeanor or prior unscored foreign criminal history results in a presumptive sentence that is clearly too lenient in light of the purpose of this chapter, as expressed in RCW 9.94A.010.

     (k) The offense resulted in the pregnancy of a child victim of rape.

     (l) The defendant knew that the victim of the current offense was a youth who was not residing with a legal custodian and the defendant established or promoted the relationship for the primary purpose of victimization.

     (m) The offense was committed with the intent to obstruct or impair human or animal health care or agricultural or forestry research or commercial production.

(n) The current offense is trafficking in the first degree or trafficking in the second degree and any victim was a minor at the time of the offense

[2003 c 267 § 4; 2002 c 169 § 1; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 § 314; 2000 c 28 § 8; 1999 c 330 § 1; 1997 c 52 § 4. Prior: 1996 c 248 § 2; 1996 c 121 § 1; 1995 c 316 § 2; 1990 c 3 § 603; 1989 c 408 § 1; 1987 c 131 § 2; 1986 c 257 § 27; 1984 c 209 § 24; 1983 c 115 § 10. Formerly RCW 9.94A.390.]

NOTES:

     *Reviser's note: These RCW references have been corrected to reflect the reorganization of chapter 9.94A RCW by 2001 c 10 § 6.

     Intent -- Severability -- Effective dates -- 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12: See notes following RCW 71.09.250.

     Application -- 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 §§ 301-363: See note following RCW 9.94A.030.

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

     Effective date -- 1996 c 121: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately [March 21, 1996]." [1996 c 121 § 2.]

     Effective date -- Application -- 1990 c 3 §§ 601 through 605: See note following RCW 9.94A.835.

     Index, part headings not law -- Severability -- Effective dates -- Application -- 1990 c 3: See RCW 18.155.900 through 18.155.902.

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

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

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