FAQ: Oregon Criminal Law

No.  If you appear at your arraignment and tell the judge you would like to hire a lawyer, they will likely either set another date to give you time to do so, or appoint a public defender (if the charges require it and you are financially eligible).  In either case, if you wish to retain an attorney after your first appearance, you should do so immediately thereafter.

Our fees are calculated according to a number of factors, most prominently the severity of the charges a prospective client is facing.

However, Ross Denison Law holds access to justice as a fundamental value and basic right, and is willing to negotiate reduced fees and payment schedules based upon financial need.

Yes.  Please feel free to call Ross Denison law for a free phone consultation with an attorney.  We will discuss your situation generally, and what Ross may be able to do to help.  After that, you can make the decision whether to hire Ross to handle your case or legal matter.  In either case, everything you discuss during your consultation will be protected by attorney/client privilege to the same extent as it would be if a formal attorney/client relationship existed.

The typical sanctions for the varying levels of Oregon criminal convictions vary widely enough that it is irresponsible to speculate without specific information.  However, the following are the maximum penalties available to a court upon conviction:

• C Misdemeanor: 30 days jail, and $1,250 fine
• B Misdemeanor: 6 months jail, and $2,500 fine
• A Misdemeanor: 364 days jail, and $6,250 fine
• C Felony: 5 years, and $125,000 fine
• B Felony: 10 years, and $250,000 fine
• A Felony: 20 years, and $375,000 fine

In almost every case, no: you should not talk to police without legal counsel.  Often, people erroneously believe that if they just explain themselves, everything will be ok.  Oregon jails and prisons are full of people who made this mistake.  Put plainly, if you find yourself being interrogated by the police, it is nearly impossible to talk your way out of trouble, and beguilingly easy to talk your way into much deeper trouble than had you declined to speak with them.

Tell the police before you can speak with them, you would like to speak with a lawyer.  Be certain to state this explicitly.  Don’t ask if you should speak to a lawyer or suggest you may want to speak with a lawyer.  Instead, politely insist on speaking to a lawyer, and decline to further communicate until that request is honored.

The first and most important thing you can do if you are charged with a crime is contact an attorney.  Whether it be Ross Denison Law or one of Portland’s other fine criminal lawyers, you need somebody to start protecting your interests immediately.

Once you have contacted and retained an attorney, follow their advice.  That’s what you pay them for.  More generally, take measures to demonstrate that you are a responsible and productive member of society.  While this may or may not affirmatively help your legal situation, it certainly will not hurt.