Criminal Defense Attorneys in Portland, OR
An arrest in Portland, whether for DUI, theft, or something more serious, moves fast through the Multnomah County courts. A licensed Oregon criminal defense attorney serving Portland will review your charges at no cost.
- Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
- Matched with an Oregon attorney in 24 hours
- 30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide
Free Portland criminal defense case review
A Oregon attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.
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How we match your Portland criminal defense case
When you submit a Portland 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.
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.
Criminal Defense cases in Portland
More about legal help in Portland →Criminal charges in Portland include DUII stops, drug and property offenses, protest-related arrests, assault, and serious felonies, prosecuted by the Multnomah County district attorney in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Oregon has its own approach to drug possession and diversion programs, and the city’s policing and prosecution priorities have shifted in recent years, so local knowledge matters. Bail, release conditions, and early motions can change your outcome and record. DearLegal matches you with an Oregon-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Portland, and the review is free.
- Portland criminal cases are prosecuted by the Multnomah County district attorney in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
- DUII, drug, and property offenses are among the most common Portland charges.
- Diversion programs for DUII and certain offenses are available in Multnomah County for eligible defendants.
Oregon criminal defense rules at a glance
Portland cases run under Oregon law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Oregon page.
Read the full Oregon criminal defense guide →- 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
Exhibit D
How much do Portland criminal defense attorneys cost?
Typical fee schedule
Oregon · Criminal Defense
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.
Exhibit F
Portland criminal defense questions, answered
Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Oregon attorney will review it for free.
Criminal Defense attorneys by city in Oregon
Same Oregon rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.
