This information is not all-inclusive, and is not intended to be legal advice or an agreement to provide legal advice or representation. If you have any questions about victims' rights in an Oregon state court, please contact the Oregon Crime Victims Law Center.
If the defendant is
an adult or a remanded juvenile being prosecuted in an Oregon state
court, victims' rights under the Oregon Constitution and statutes
include the following: The Right to Notice includes the right to be:
- Informed of victims’ rights under the Oregon Constitution as soon as
practicable.
- Notified in advance of any
“critical stage” of the case that takes place in open court when the defendant
will be present. (A victim must request this right from the district
attorney or other prosecuting attorney in the case.)
“Critical
stages” include the following:
-
Release hearings.
-
Hearings relating to the rescheduling of
trial.
-
Other pre-trial hearings.
-
Entry of guilty or “no-contest” pleas.
-
Trials.
-
Sentencings.
-
Restitution hearings.
-
Probation and parole hearings. (For
notice of parole board hearings, contact the Oregon Board of Parole and
Post-Prison Supervision at
(503)
945-0907.)
-
Any other stages that the court
determines to be “critical.”
- Notified if the defendant is being considered for an “early disposition”
program.
- Notified of any Psychiatric Security
Review Board hearing and of the defendant’s conditional release,
discharge, or escape. (A victim must request this right from the
Psychiatric Security Review Board, (503)
229-5596.)
- Notified of a hearing on the defendant’s
motion to set aside his conviction or arrest record.
Right to Presence and ParticipationThe Right to Presence and Participation includes the right to:
- Be Present
at any “critical stage” of the case that takes place in open court
where the defendant will be present, and to be heard at any pretrial release hearing and at sentencing.
- Provide statements for the pre-sentence
investigation report.
- Reasonably express views at a probation or
parole hearing, and to provide relevant information to the State Board of
Parole and Post-Prison Supervision regarding the defendant’s release on
parole.
- Make a statement at a hearing on the
defendant’s motion to set aside his conviction or arrest record.
Legal Representation
A victim may represent himself or be
represented by an attorney, including one from the Oregon Crime Victims Law
Center or a district attorney who has agreed to represent the victim in
asserting his rights. The Right to Protection includes the right to:
- Request testing of the defendant for HIV and other communicable diseases
if the crime involved the transmission of body fluids, and under certain
circumstances, to obtain a court order requiring the defendant to be
tested.
- Have the victim’s personal identifying information not disclosed to the
defendant by the defendant’s attorney without a court order, and to have
the victim’s address and phone number not given to the defendant without a
court order. (A victim must request this latter right.)
- Have decisions regarding the defendant’s pretrial release based on the
victim’s reasonable protection.
- Have the defendant prohibited from contacting the victim, directly or
indirectly, while the defendant is on pre-trial release without a court
order.
- Refuse to provide an interview or other information to the defendant or
his attorney.
- Obtain a court order preventing the disclosure of certain information.
- Obtain information from a “public body” about the defendant’s criminal
history, conviction, sentence, imprisonment, and/or future release date. (A
victim must request this information.)
Other rights that victims have in Oregon State court include the right to:
- Have the case, including trial and sentencing, conducted with “all
practicable speed.”
- Be taken into consideration when the dates for court appearances are set
or reset.
- Have the victim’s interests “strongly consider[ed]” by the court in
deciding whether co-defendants should be tried jointly or separately.
- Be allowed to consult on plea negotiations in violent felony cases. (A
victim must request this right from the prosecuting attorney.)
- Have the victim’s views considered regarding whether the criminal
charge(s) against the defendant should be diverted.
- Obtain prompt restitution.
Additional Rights
Available to Victims of Sex OffensesIn addition to the rights listed above, victims of sex offenses have the right to:
- Receive accurate and unbiased information about emergency contraception
from a hospital and, upon request to the hospital, to receive emergency
contraception immediately.
- Have certain evidence excluded at trial.
- Bar the use of media sound- and/or visual-recording equipment in courtroom
proceedings. (A victim must request this right.)
- Limit the copying and/or distribution of information concerning sexual
conduct.
Additional
Rights Available to Victims of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants
Offenses
In addition to the rights listed above, victims of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants Offenses have the right to:
- Obtain
the same reports and information as a defendant/driver who was involved in
a vehicle collision with the victim. (A victim must request this right.)
- Be notified of, present and heard at any hearing on
the defendant/driver’s petition for diversion if the driver caused damage
to the victim’s property.
|
|