http://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/?fa=court_rules.rulesPDF&groupName=clj&setName=CrRLJ
(c) Citizen Complaints. Any person wishing to institute a criminal actionalleging a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor shall appear before a judgeempowered to commit persons charged with offenses against the State, other thana judge pro tem. The judge may require the appearance to be made on therecord, and under oath. The judge may consider any allegations on the basis ofan affidavit sworn to before the judge. The court may also grant an opportunityat said hearing for evidence to be given by the county prosecuting attorney ordeputy, the potential defendant or attorney of record, law enforcement or otherpotential witnesses. The court may also require the presence of otherpotential witnesses. In addition to probable cause, the court may consider: (1) Whether an unsuccessful prosecution will subject the State to costs ordamage claims under RCW 9A.16.110, or other civil proceedings; (2) Whether the complainant has adequate recourse under laws governingsmall claims suits, anti-harassment petitions or other civil actions; (3) Whether a criminal investigation is pending; (4) Whether other criminal charges could be disrupted by allowing thecitizen complaint to be filed; (5) The availability of witnesses at trial; (6) The criminal record of the complainant, potential defendant andpotential witnesses, and whether any have been convicted of crimes ofdishonesty as defined by ER 609; and (7) Prosecution standards under RCW 9.94A.440.If the judge is satisfied that probable cause exists, and factors (1) through (7)justify filing charges, and that the complaining witness is aware of thegravity of initiating a criminal complaint, of the necessity of a courtappearance or appearances for himself or herself and witnesses, of the possibleliability for false arrest and of the consequences of perjury, the judge mayauthorize the citizen to sign and file a complaint in the form prescribed inCrRLJ 2.1(a). The affidavit may be in substantially the following form:THE STATE OF WASHINGTON ) ) ss. No. ________COUNTY OF _________________) AFFIDAVIT OF COMPLAINING WITNESSDEFENDANT:Name ____________________________ Name ____________________________Address _________________________ Address _________________________Phone ___________ Bus. __________ Phone ___________ Bus. __________WITNESSES:Name ____________________________ Name ____________________________Address _________________________ Address _________________________Phone ___________ Bus. __________ Phone ___________ Bus. __________Name ____________________________ Name ____________________________Address _________________________ Address _________________________Phone ___________ Bus. __________ Phone ___________ Bus. __________ I, the undersigned complainant, understand that I have the choice ofcomplaining to a prosecuting authority rather than signing this affidavit. Ielect to use this method to start criminal proceedings. I understand that thefollowing are some but not all of the consequences of my signing a criminalcomplaint: (1) the defendant may be arrested and placed in custody; (2) thearrest if proved false may result in a lawsuit against me; (3) if I have swornfalsely I may be prosecuted for perjury; (4) this charge will be prosecutedeven though I might later change my mind; (5) witnesses and complainant will berequired to appear in court on the trial date regardless of inconvenience,school, job, etc. Following is a true statement of the events that led to filing this charge.I (have)(have not) consulted with a prosecuting authority concerning this incident. On the ____ day of ___________, 19__, at _______________________. (location)_____________________________________________________________________ Signed _______________________________ SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this ____ day of ___________, 19__. ______________________________________ Judge (d) Filing. (1) Original. The original of the complaint or citation and notice shall befiled with the clerk of the court. (2) Time. The citation and notice shall be filed with the clerk of thecourt within two days after issuance, not including Saturdays, Sundays orholidays. A citation and notice not filed within the time limits of this rulemay be dismissed without prejudice.[Amended effective March 18, 1994; July 2, 1996; September 1, 1999;November 21, 2006; May 6, 2008.]