Oregon Criminal Defense Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Oregon criminal defense attorneys who navigate Measure 11 mandatory minimums, post-Ramos unanimous-jury implications, recreational marijuana under Measure 91, conditional discharge, and Oregon’s set-aside framework under ORS § 137.225.

Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
Matched with an Oregon attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Oregon criminal defense case review

A Oregon attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your Oregon criminal defense case

When you submit a Oregon criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Oregon law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Oregon who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Oregon

Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Oregon criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Oregon, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder; 12 years for sex offenses against minors with continuing victimization; 3 years for most other felonies (ORS § 131.125)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 2 years
2 years for most misdemeanors; 4 years for some financial offenses (ORS § 131.125)
Sentencing Structure: Class A-C
Class A-C felony grading under ORS § 161.605; Measure 11 mandatory minimums for 16 violent offenses (ORS § 137.700); Sentencing Guidelines grid for non-Measure 11 felonies; repeat property offender and dangerous offender enhancements
Expungement / Record Sealing: 1 year
Set-Aside under ORS § 137.225 — SB 397 (2021) significantly expanded; most misdemeanors after 1 year, many felonies after 3-7 years; Measure 110 / drug-decriminalization automatic expungement
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under ORS § 135.245 et seq.; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (Or. Const. Art. I, § 14); release on recognizance is presumptive in many cases
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Oregon grades felonies as Class A (up to 20 years), Class B (up to 10), Class C (up to 5), and Unclassified (statute-specific) under ORS § 161.605. Murder is Class A (life with parole eligibility after 25 years; Aggravated Murder formerly death-eligible — Oregon Supreme Court abolished death penalty via SB 1013 in 2019). Measure 11 (ORS § 137.700) imposes mandatory minimum sentences without parole or earned-time credits for 16 enumerated violent offenses (Murder, Manslaughter I, Assault I, Robbery I, Kidnapping I, Rape I, Sodomy I, Unlawful Sexual Penetration I, etc.) — Measure 11 minimums range from 70 months to 25 years. Oregon legalized recreational marijuana in 2014 (Measure 91) — adults 21+ can possess up to 1 oz in public, 8 oz at home; medical cannabis since 1998. Oregon also decriminalized simple possession of all controlled substances in 2020 (Measure 110), reducing many possession offenses to violations with $100 fines — though Measure 110 was modified by 2024 legislation (HB 4002) recriminalizing personal possession as misdemeanor. Following Ramos v. Louisiana (2020), Oregon now requires unanimous juries for all serious crimes (Oregon previously allowed 11-1 or 10-2 verdicts). Oregon expungement / set-aside under ORS § 137.225 was expanded by SB 397 (2021) — most misdemeanors after 1 year, many felonies after 3-7 years. Oregon District Attorneys plea-bargain extensively, and Multnomah County and other progressive jurisdictions run substantial diversion programs.

Exhibit B

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Oregon

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

0of 6 apply

Tick anything that applies. Even one is reason enough to talk to a Oregon criminal defense attorney before you talk to an insurer.

Talk to an attorney anyway

Meanwhile, don’t

Talking to OSP, PPB, sheriffs, or any Oregon officer without an attorney
Consenting to a search when Or. Const. Art. I, § 9 may require a warrant
Missing an Oregon court date — bench warrants and release-condition violations follow
Posting about the case on social media — Oregon DAs subpoena platforms
Deleting messages or photos from your phone — Tampering with Physical Evidence (ORS § 162.295) is a Class A misdemeanor (or felony in some applications)
Accepting the DA’s first plea offer without exploring Conditional Discharge, DUII Diversion, drug court, charge reduction, or Measure 11 challenge

Exhibit C

Criminal Defense cases we take in Oregon

Which one is closest to yours?

DUII

Oregon DUII under ORS § 813.010 (.08 BAC). First offense: 2 days minimum (or 80 hours community service), $1,000-$6,250 fine, 1-year suspension. DUII Diversion (ORS § 813.200) for first-time offenders — dismissal upon successful completion. Second within 5 years: enhanced penalties.

Sound like yours? A Oregon attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

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Exhibit D

How much do Oregon criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Oregon · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Oregon are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Oregon work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Or. RPC 1.5(c)(3) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases (Measure 11, capital-equivalent, multi-count) use hourly billing. The Oregon Public Defense Services Commission and contract public defender offices represent indigent defendants — Oregon has faced significant public defender shortages in recent years.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Oregon criminal defense compensation can include

A Oregon criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Charge Dismissal

Outright dismissal through motion to suppress (often successful under Oregon’s protective Art. I, § 9), motion to dismiss for insufficient evidence, speedy trial under ORS § 135.747 (constitutional speedy trial enforced robustly), or DA dismissal.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

Oregon criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Oregon attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Oregon State Police, PPB (Portland Police Bureau), county sheriffs, and federal agents in Oregon use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Or. Const. Art. I, § 12 right against self-incrimination.

Yes. Oregon misdemeanors carry up to 1 year jail (Class A) and varying fines under ORS § 161.615. Conditional Discharge under ORS § 475.245 for drug offenses; diversion programs (DA discretion) for various offenses. DV and DUII convictions trigger major collateral consequences.

State cases go through Oregon Circuit Court. Federal cases go to U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon (Portland, Eugene, Medford, Pendleton) under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Federal cases commonly involve I-5 / I-84 drug trafficking, § 922(g) firearm cases, federal land/national forest offenses, and federal fraud.

Oregon plea agreements under ORS § 135.405 are negotiated between the District Attorney and defense. Pleas can include charge reductions, Conditional Discharge (ORS § 475.245 — drug), DUII Diversion (ORS § 813.200 — first-time DUII), drug court entry, mental health court entry, and stipulated sentence recommendations.

Oregon uses “set-aside” rather than expungement under ORS § 137.225. SB 397 (2021) significantly expanded eligibility — most misdemeanors after 1 year of conviction-free status; many felonies after 3-7 years. Sex offenses, Measure 11 violent offenses, certain DUII largely excluded. Drug possession convictions under former Measure 110 are subject to automatic relief.

Oregon handles juveniles under 18 in juvenile court under ORS § 419C. Juvenile records are confidential. Expungement under ORS § 419A.262 — Oregon’s juvenile expungement framework is among the broader in the country. Waiver to adult court for 15+ for Measure 11 offenses is automatic under ORS § 137.707 (though challenged constitutionally); discretionary waiver for other cases.

Oregon DUII (Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants) under ORS § 813.010 uses .08 BAC (.04 commercial, any amount under-21). Implied consent under ORS § 813.100 — refusal triggers 1-year administrative license suspension. Mandatory IID for all DUII convictions under ORS § 813.602. DUII Diversion under ORS § 813.200 for first-time offenders results in dismissal upon completion.