# RCW 9A.44.120: RCW 9A.44.120: Admissibility of child's statement—Conditions

> Washington · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S120

## Section

- **Citation:** RCW 9A.44.120
- **Heading:** RCW 9A.44.120: Admissibility of child's statement—Conditions
- **Jurisdiction:** Washington
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Washington Code / Title 26 / Chapter 44 / Section 120

## Text

(1) A statement not otherwise admissible by statute or court rule, is admissible in evidence in dependency proceedings under Title 13 RCW and criminal proceedings, including juvenile offense adjudications, in the courts of the state of Washington if: (a)(i) It is made by a child when under the age of ten describing any act of sexual contact performed with or on the child by another, describing any attempted act of sexual contact with or on the child by another, or describing any act of physical abuse of the child by another that results in substantial bodily harm as defined by RCW 9A.04.110 ; or (ii) It is made by a child when under the age of 18 describing any of the following acts or attempted acts performed with or on the child: Trafficking under RCW 9A.40.100 ; commercial sexual abuse of a minor under RCW 9.68A.100 ; promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor under RCW 9.68A.101 ; or promoting travel for commercial sexual abuse of a minor under RCW 9.68A.102 ; (b) The court finds, in a hearing conducted outside the presence of the jury, that the time, content, and circumstances of the statement provide sufficient indicia of reliability; and (c) The child either: (i) Testifies at the proceedings; or (ii) Is unavailable as a witness, except that when the child is unavailable as a witness, such statement may be admitted only if there is corroborative evidence of the act. (2) A statement may not be admitted under this section unless the proponent of the statement makes known to the adverse party his or her intention to offer the statement and the particulars of the statement sufficiently in advance of the proceedings to provide the adverse party with a fair opportunity to prepare to meet the statement.

## Nearby sections

- [RCW 9A.44.010 RCW 9A.44.010: Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S010.md)
- [RCW 9A.44.050 RCW 9A.44.050: Rape in the second degree.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S050.md)
- [RCW 9A.44.100 RCW 9A.44.100: Indecent liberties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S100.md)
- [RCW 9A.44.120 RCW 9A.44.120: Admissibility of child's statement—Conditions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S120.md)
- [RCW 9A.44.130 RCW 9A.44.130: Registration of sex offenders and kidnapping offenders—Procedures—Definition—Penalties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S130.md)
- [RCW 9A.44.150 RCW 9A.44.150: Testimony of child by closed-circuit television.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S150.md)
- [RCW 9A.44.160 RCW 9A.44.160: Custodial sexual misconduct in the first degree.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S160.md)
- [RCW 9A.44.190 RCW 9A.44.190: Criminal trespass against children—Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S190.md)
- [RCW 9A.44.210 RCW 9A.44.210: Court initiated issuance of sexual assault no-contact orders—Terms, conditions, requirements, etc.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S210.md)
- [RCW 26.44.015 RCW 26.44.015: Limitations of chapter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S015.md)
- [RCW 26.44.020 RCW 26.44.020: Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S020.md)
- [RCW 26.44.030 RCW 26.44.030: Reports—Duty and authority to make—Duty of receiving agency—Duty to notify—Case planning and consultation—Penalty for unauthorized exchange of information—Filing dependency petitions—Investigations—Interviews of children—Records—Risk assessment process.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S030.md)
- [RCW 26.44.031 RCW 26.44.031: Records—Maintenance and disclosure—Destruction of screened-out, unfounded, or inconclusive reports—Rules—Proceedings for enforcement.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S031.md)
- [RCW 26.44.032 RCW 26.44.032: Legal defense of public employee.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S032.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T26_C44_S120. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.