Criminal Law Help in Oregon
The Oregon Law Help website provides help and guidance to people with civil legal problems in Oregon.
Civil legal issues involve problems between individuals, organizations, or government agencies. Civil problems include getting a divorce, filing for a restraining order, writing a will, dealing with debt, or accessing government programs like Social Security or unemployment.
This website does not include information about your rights during a criminal case or when dealing with law enforcement. If you have a criminal issue, other resources are available. You can learn about some of these resources below.
- Know-your-rights information
- Court-appointed attorneys (public defenders)
- Private criminal defense attorneys
Know-your-rights information
The U.S. Constitution guarantees everyone certain rights when interacting with the government, including police, the criminal court system, immigration officers, and other government officers.
Learn more about your constitutional rights on the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) national website or the ACLU of Oregon website.
Read our article on immigrants' rights when interacting with police and immigration officers here.
Court-appointed attorneys (public defenders)
If the government makes you appear in court to face charges, you have the right to have an attorney represent you. In some cases, if you can't afford to pay for an attorney, you will be given a court-appointed attorney (a public defender), and the government will pay some or all of the cost of this attorney for you.
Here are some situations where you have the right to a court-appointed attorney:
- Criminal cases (when you are being charged with a crime)
- Probation violations
- Mental health commitment hearings
- Child welfare cases
- Juvenile delinquency
For more information on your right to a public defense attorney, visit the Oregon Public Defense Commission website.
Private criminal defense attorneys
If you are charged with a crime, you can hire a private criminal defense attorney. A private attorney isn’t paid by the government. Instead, they may have their own business or work for a law firm.
If you'd like to hire an attorney instead of having one appointed by the court, here are some helpful resources:
- Oregon's Lawyer Referral Service: This service can help you find a criminal defense attorney in your area. All attorneys in this program are in good standing with the Oregon State Bar. Find out more about this service here.
- Guide to Hiring a Lawyer: This guide will help you understand how to choose the right lawyer for your case. Read the guide here.