Requesting Your Rights in an Adult Criminal Proceeding

Adult Crime Victims’ Automatic and Requested Rights

Every crime victim in Oregon has legal rights. Many of these rights go into effect automatically, while others must be requested. A crime victim, their attorney or the District Attorney may assert and enforce these rights on their behalf.

Oregon Constitution Art 1, §42(4) »

Automatic rights include the right to:

  • be notified of your rights as soon as practicable
  • have a personal representative or support person with you
  • attend any open court proceeding
  • speak at a release hearing or sentencing
  • prompt restitution
  • protect your personal identifiers from the defendant
  • obtain a copy of a transcript or recording of open court proceedings if one is already made
  • refuse to speak to an attorney or private investigator for the defendant

Rights that must be requested to be exercised include the right to:

  • be informed in advance of any critical stage of the proceedings held in open court when the defendant will be present. In Oregon law “critical stages” are defined in the adult criminal justice system by ORS 147.500(5) »
  • get information about the conviction, sentence, imprisonment, criminal history and future release from physical custody of the criminal defendant or convicted criminal
  • be consulted by the district attorney about plea negotiations and the final plea agreement in a violent felony case
  • be notified when the convicted person is released from prison
  • test the offender for HIV and other communicable diseases if the crime involved the transmission of body fluids
  • limit copying or disseminating information about, or recording of, a sexually explicit act in a case that involves a sexual offense
  • deny televised, photographed or recorded coverage of sex offense proceedings
  • receive information given to the defendant in a DUII automobile collision case
  • ongoing involvement in any court actions that happen after the conviction such as appeal, post-conviction or federal habeas proceedings, for person crimes and burglary in the first degree only

Many other rights may apply. For a general overview, please review the Victims’ Rights Guide », available in several languages.

For assistance, please contact your local District Attorney Victim Assistance program», or the Oregon Department of Justice.

Victims’ Rights, Post-Conviction

To request certain rights after a criminal conviction, crime victims must provide their contact information to:

  • the county’s community corrections agency if the offender is supervised locally (on probation)
  • the Oregon Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision (503-945-0907) if the offender is incarcerated in the state prison system
  • The Oregon Psychiatric Security Review Board (503-229-5596) or the State Hospital Review Panel (503-945-2800) if the offender is found Guilty Except for Insanity

VISOR (Victim Information System in Oregon) gives crime victims 24-hour access to information about adult offenders in custody and youth offenders in Oregon Youth Authority facilities. The custody information in adult cases includes:

  • the location of custody
  • changes in parole or probation status
  • release information
  • transfer information
  • notification of escape(s)
  • notification of death

Requesting Notifications

Crime victims must register with VISOR to receive notifications. You can access VISOR by calling 1-888-749-8080 or by visiting VISOR.oregon.gov».

To be notified when someone in the custody of the Department of Corrections is scheduled to be released, contact Victim Services for the Oregon Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision at 503-945-0907.

To be notified 30 days in advance of Parole Board hearings, contact Victim Services for the Oregon Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision at 503-945-0907.

If the offender is under the authority of the Psychiatric Security Review Board or the Juvenile Psychiatric Security Review Board victims may register for hearing notifications at psrb@psrb.oregon.gov .

Information about the Sex Offender Registry can be found by emailing the Oregon State Police Sex Offender Registry at Sexoffender.Questions@osp.oregon.gov or call (503) 934-1258 to request information about sex offenders in your area.