Use of force by limited authority Washington peace officers — Detention of persons.
RCW 72.09.650
in effect(1) An employee of the department who is a limited authority Washington peace officer under RCW 10.93.020 may use reasonable force to detain, search, or remove persons who enter or remain without permission within a correctional facility or institutional grounds or whenever, upon probable cause, it appears to such employee that a person has committed or is attempting to commit a crime, or possesses contraband within a correctional facility or institutional grounds. Should any person be detained, the department shall immediately notify a local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the correctional facility or institutional grounds of the detainment. The department is authorized to detain the person for a reasonable time to search the person and confiscate any contraband, and until custody of the person and any illegal contraband can be transferred to a law enforcement officer when appropriate. An employee of the department who is a limited authority Washington peace officer under RCW 10.93.020 may use that force necessary in the protection of persons and properties located within the confines of the correctional facility or institutional grounds. (2) The rights granted in subsection (1) of this section are in addition to any others that may exist by law including, but not limited to, the rights granted in RCW 9A.16.020 .
(1) An employee of the department who is a limited authority Washington peace officer under RCW 10.93.020 may use reasonable force to detain, search, or remove persons who enter or remain without permission within a correctional facility or institutional grounds or whenever, upon probable cause, it appears to such employee that a person has committed or is attempting to commit a crime, or possesses contraband within a correctional facility or institutional grounds. Should any person be detained, the department shall immediately notify a local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the correctional facility or institutional grounds of the detainment. The department is authorized to detain the person for a reasonable time to search the person and confiscate any contraband, and until custody of the person and any illegal contraband can be transferred to a law enforcement officer when appropriate. An employee of the department who is a limited authority Washington peace officer under RCW 10.93.020 may use that force necessary in the protection of persons and properties located within the confines of the correctional facility or institutional grounds.
(2) The rights granted in subsection (1) of this section are in addition to any others that may exist by law including, but not limited to, the rights granted in RCW 9A.16.020 .
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=72.09&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026