Anger management by state · Washington
Court-Ordered Anger Management Classes in Washington
If Washington District Court or Municipal Court (courts of limited jurisdiction) for misdemeanors; Superior Court for felony cases ordered anger management in Washington, here's what actually counts — whether you can do it online, how long it usually runs, the important difference between a short anger-management class and a certified batterer intervention program, and how to find a class your court will accept.
Quick answer: anger management in Washington
Varies by court / judge. For generic anger management, whether an online class is accepted is up to the individual court or probation department — some Washington judges accept reputable online classes, others require in-person attendance or a provider from their own approved list, so confirm in writing before enrolling. Domestic-violence DVIT is different: state rules require weekly in-person group sessions (unless there is a documented clinical reason for another modality), so an online anger-management class cannot satisfy a DVIT requirement. Washington District Court or Municipal Court (courts of limited jurisdiction) for misdemeanors; Superior Court for felony cases decides what counts — confirm the specific class and format before you enroll or pay.
At a glance
| When is it ordered? | When a judge or probation officer orders it (varies by court) |
|---|---|
| Who & when | Ordered at a judge's discretion, typically as a condition of a suspended sentence or probation in misdemeanor cases such as fourth-degree assault (RCW 9A.36.041), disorderly conduct, and harassment. When a case is charged or flagged as domestic violence, the court orders state-certified DVIT rather than a generic anger-management class. |
| Typical length | Generic anger-management orders commonly run 8, 12, 26, or 52 hours/sessions, set by the judge or probation department based on the offense and history — always read your court order for the exact number. Court-ordered DVIT is a separate, much longer program: a minimum of six months up to about eighteen months of weekly group treatment. |
| In person or online? | Varies by court / judge |
| What it's called | Court-ordered anger management (no single state-standardized curriculum or state-approved provider list). In domestic-violence cases Washington instead orders state-certified Domestic Violence Intervention Treatment (DVIT) — the state's regulated batterer-intervention track, formerly called "domestic violence perpetrator treatment" — which is legally distinct from a generic anger-management class. |
Washington-specific rules to know
- Anger management is NOT the same as domestic-violence treatment in Washington. In domestic-violence cases, courts order state-certified Domestic Violence Intervention Treatment (DVIT) — Washington's batterer-intervention program — under RCW 43.20A.735 and WAC chapter 388-60B, not a generic anger class. By law, 'any program that provides domestic violence treatment to perpetrators of domestic violence must be certified by the department' (DSHS).
- DVIT is a long, regulated program: a minimum of six months (up to roughly eighteen months) of weekly group sessions. Other therapies (individual, marital, family, or substance-abuse counseling) may run alongside it but cannot be substituted for the weekly DV group treatment.
- There is one real official list — but it is for DVIT, not generic anger management. DSHS publishes a searchable directory of certified DV intervention programs (by city, county, or name), and those providers also appear in the state's WA HELMS license search. No comparable statewide certification or list exists for ordinary anger-management classes.
- To find an accepted generic anger-management class, check your sentencing court's or probation department's approved-provider list — approval is decided court by court, not by any state agency.
- Always confirm the specific provider and the format (online vs. in-person, and the required number of hours) directly with the court or probation officer BEFORE enrolling or paying, and keep your written judgment/sentence handy since it states the exact requirement.
Find an accepted anger management class in Washington
Anger management is usually approved case by case, so the safest move is to confirm the specific class with Washington District Court or Municipal Court (courts of limited jurisdiction) for misdemeanors; Superior Court for felony cases or your probation officer before you pay:
Prefer to look on a map? Search Google Maps for anger management classes in Washington — then check any provider against your court's order before enrolling.
Can you take it online? Whether an online anger-management class is accepted in Washington depends on your court or judge. An approved online class can be the fastest way to finish — but confirm Washington District Court or Municipal Court (courts of limited jurisdiction) for misdemeanors; Superior Court for felony cases accepts your specific class first (domestic-violence cases usually require an in-person certified program). How court-approved online anger management works →
Source & accuracy: compiled from official Washington court and government sources. Requirements change and vary by court and case — always confirm the class, format, hours, and deadline with your court before enrolling. Sources: dshs.wa.gov/esa/community-services-offices/domestic-violence-intervention-treatment, app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.20A.735, app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=388-60B&full=true, app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.95.210, wahelms.my.site.com/s/license-search.