Harassment and Stalking Laws in Oregon

Harassment includes offensive physical contact and conveying, by telephone, electronic means or writing, a threat to inflict serious physical injury or commit a felony that would reasonably cause alarm; it is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months), or a Class A misdemeanor in listed situations such as a threat to kill that a reasonable person would believe is likely to be carried out, or a threat made while a protective order is in effect. Telephonic harassment (repeated calls with no purpose, or calls, texts or voicemails after being told to stop) is a Class B misdemeanor. Stalking is knowingly alarming or coercing someone through repeated and unwanted contact that causes reasonable fear for their personal safety or that of their family or household; "contact" includes written or electronic communications. Stalking is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days), and becomes a Class C felony (up to 5 years) with a prior conviction for stalking or violating a stalking protective order, when the person is under an active protection order protecting someone else, or when any of the contacts is itself a felony, unlawful dissemination of an intimate image, or unlawful use of a GPS device.

Oregon's rule on court-appointed lawyers: Public defense is administered by the Oregon Public Defense Commission. A person is financially eligible for appointed counsel if the person is financially unable to retain adequate counsel without substantial hardship in providing basic economic necessities to the person or the person's dependents, under standards set by the commission. Eligibility is determined by the court from a detailed financial statement (on a commission-specified form) disclosing assets, liabilities, income and dependents; eligibility verification and screening personnel may assist the courts. If the court finds the person can pay all or part of the costs of the eligibility determination and appointed counsel, it may enter a limited judgment requiring payment of what the person can pay without substantial hardship; failure to pay is not grounds for contempt or for counsel to withdraw. ORS 151.213, 151.485, 151.487, 151.489

Lawyers set their own fees, and Oregon has rules on how they may charge. See hiring a criminal defense lawyer in Oregon for fee rules, how to check a lawyer's license and free help.

How release before trial works in Oregon: A magistrate makes a release decision at arraignment or other first appearance, giving priority to the primary release criteria and imposing the least onerous condition reasonably likely to ensure the safety of the public and the victim and the person's appearance. Eligible persons are released on personal recognizance unless the release criteria require otherwise; if not, the magistrate considers conditional release, then security release. A requested release hearing must be held within 48 hours of arraignment (and no later than five days unless the defendant consents). For murder, aggravated murder or treason, release is denied when the proof is evident or the presumption strong that the person is guilty. For violent felonies, release is denied if the court finds probable cause and, by clear and convincing evidence, a danger of physical injury or sexual victimization to the victim or public; the defendant may request a hearing at arraignment, held within five days. For security release, the magistrate sets a security amount that will reasonably assure appearance; the defendant may deposit 10 percent of the security amount (at least $25), of which 85 percent is returned at discharge and 15 percent retained as costs, or post property or sureties worth double the security amount. ORS 135.240, 135.245, 135.265 What happens after an arrest.

Each state sets its own rules for sealing or expunging records. See Oregon expungement and record sealing rules.