Portland Criminal Law Blog
Elements needed to prove ineffective assistance of counsel
Lawyers are human. Sometimes they make mistakes. However, sometimes lawyers fail to do their jobs entirely. When this happens, there is a very real human cost. That is why courts will provide post-conviction relief to people who suffered severe consequences due to the...
Is a drug diversion program right for you?
A drug charge can cause a lot of upheaval in your life. There's always the looming possibility of being sent to jail or prison, and the fines that are associated with many criminal convictions can leave you scrambling to make ends meet. That's not to mention the...
Completion of DUII diversion program can dismiss criminal charges
The law recognizes that people who drive under the influence aren’t fundamentally bad. Everyone makes mistakes. Oregon offers a DUII diversion program for people who qualify. Usually, this option is available for people who have no previous drunk driving convictions...
Why is expungement necessary?
Many convicted of a serious crime want to move on after serving time or paying their penalties. The thinking goes that the convicted individual has paid their debt to society by the time it is over. However, it is rarely as simple as claiming you paid your debt....
Know Your Rights Regarding Pretextual Traffic Stops
As the months of nightly protests show, Portland residents are committed to reducing racial bias in policing and protecting all citizens from law enforcement overreach. One of the ways to achieve both is to limit the broad powers that police are given in common...
California men face multiple drug crimes in Oregon for fentanyl
Allegations of drug crimes related to opioids are gaining significant attention in Oregon and throughout the United States. Opioids are often linked to heroin, but more and more, people are facing charges because of fentanyl. Fentanyl is a schedule II drug. Despite...
Man who served prison sentence pardoned after new details surface
Last month in Oregon, an innocent man was exonerated for a crime that he did not commit. U.S. Army veteran Earl Bain, 41, who served more than six years in prison on a charge of first-degree sexual abuse received a pardon on Aug. 18 from Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. The...
Man faces drug charges for selling heroin, methamphetamine
Potential changes are being discussed with how drug crimes are dealt with in Oregon. In the coming months, the decision will be made whether those who have illegal drugs in their possession for personal will face criminal penalties. Treatment may be a more viable...
Digital evidence management is more vital than ever
Technology touches every aspect of our lives at this point. The criminal justice system is no exception, and attorneys must adapt. A patchwork of tech devices, apps and other consumer hardware tracks many of our daily activities, even when we may not realize it. These...
The head of a drug trafficking ring sentenced in Oregon
An investigation that began in 2018 has ended with a drug trafficker in Oregon being sentenced to 11 years in prison. The police started investigating two years ago when they learned about an organization that was exchanging cash and weapons for methamphetamine with a...
