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 legal problems include things like getting a divorce, filing for a restraining order, writing a will, dealing with debt problems, or accessing government programs like Social Security or unemployment.
This website does not cover issues related to crime. If you have a criminal issue, other resources are available. You can learn about some of these resources below.
The U.S. Constitution guarantees everyone certain rights when they interact with the government, including police, the criminal court system, immigration officers, and other government officers.
You can learn more about your constitutional rights on the National American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) website or the Oregon ACLU website.
If the government requires you to appear in court, you have the right to a court-appointed attorney if you can't afford to hire an attorney. The government will pay some or all of the cost of this attorney for you.
Here are some situations where this applies:
- Criminal cases
- Probation violations
- Mental health commitment hearings
- Child welfare cases
- Juvenile delinquency
Here's what else you should know about public defense attorneys in Oregon:
- Public defense attorneys are there to represent you just like any private lawyer. They have an ethical duty to work hard for the best outcome possible in your case.
- Public defenders work for you, not the government.
- Your conversations with your public attorney are confidential.
- These attorneys follow the same rules as all lawyers in the state. They must also meet special qualifications for public defense work.
- If you qualify for a court-appointed lawyer, you won't be able to pick your attorney. The court will appoint one for you at the start of the case.
If you are charged with a crime, you can also hire a private criminal defense attorney to represent you. A private attorney doesn't work for 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.