Portland Criminal Law Blog
Oregon Supreme Court upheld drivers’ rights in DUI case
If you drive south of Portland for about an hour, you will arrive in Salem. Oregon’s capital city is home to Sen. Peter Courtney, who recently proposed a measure to close what he believes is a loophole in state law. Senate Bill 1503 would, in effect, negate an Oregon...
Clients need to know when a guilty plea may lead to deportation
Immigrants and visaholders in the United States can face additional penalties if they are convicted of some crimes. This includes deportation. Under U.S. law, certain crimes are considered grounds for deportation – even for individuals with a green card. A guilty...
When is an arrest illegal?
When an Oregon resident is arrested, the arrest must comply with state, federal and common law for it to be a legal arrest. Many people do not know when they are free to end a police interrogation and walk away or when they must comply. The Fourth Amendment of the...
Oregon couple charged with dealing meth
On March 18, Oregon authorities arrested a 52-year-old Gold Hill man for allegedly possessing and dealing methamphetamine. The defendant's 40-year-old wife was taken into custody five days earlier. According to local media reports, the Medford Area Drug and Gang...
Tests used in court may not be reliable
Courts in Oregon and throughout the United States are only supposed to rely on evidence that is considered to be reliable. However, research has shown that many psychological and IQ tests that are admitted into evidence are inaccurate or based on junk science. A study...
Man sentenced to 10 years on federal drug charges
An Oregon man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on drug charges in a hearing on March 11. The 38-year-old man was convicted of conspiring to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, according to a press release by the federal Department of...
Oregon’s “zero tolerance” underage DUI laws
Drinking and driving is illegal at any age, but what happens if you do it when you’re under 21? Oregon has a “zero tolerance” policy when it comes to underage drinking and driving. Here’s some information about what that could mean for you: What is zero tolerance?...
Drug decriminalization measure heading for Oregon ballot
Groups advocating for drug decriminalization hope to be able to put a ballot measure before Oregon voters in November. If the measure reaches the ballot and is approved, Oregon would become the first state to eliminate criminal penalties for possessing illegal drugs....
Portland man accused of carjacking missionaries
On March 15, two religious missionaries parked their car in the Glenfair neighborhood on the 15800 block of Southeast Stark Street. A man approached them and demanded their vehicle. At first, the two refused, but the man implied that he possessed a weapon. They got...
Police raid illegal marijuana growing operation
The consumption of marijuana for recreational and medical purposes is now legal in Oregon, but the cultivation of the drug is strictly regulated by the state. Law enforcement agencies may no longer arrest people for possessing or smoking marijuana, but they still...
