Criminal Justice

SB 5701 authorizes the state to issue bonds and certificates for specific capital projects, including Moda Center improvements and Oregon State University's Cascades Student Health and Recreation Center. It modifies previously approved lottery bonding rules and allocates specific funding amounts for projects like community college renovations, housing programs, corrections facility upgrades, and university building projects. The bill requires the OSU Cascades project to meet apprenticeship, outreach, and benefits standards. It does not create new taxes or fees but allows the state to borrow funds for these named improvements.

Modifies provisions relating to petitions for compensation for wrongful conviction. Creates a new post-conviction relief petition process when a person has a conviction that is based on scientific expert testimony, scientific expert evidence or scientific expert opinion derived from specified discredited forensic science disciplines. Sunsets the new petition process on January 2, 2031. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

SB 1557 updates Oregon's rules for court contempt proceedings. It clarifies who can initiate contempt actions (such as parties, district attorneys, city attorneys, or authorized officials) and requires detailed documentation like affidavits to notify defendants of specific alleged misconduct. The bill mandates hearings before imposing sanctions, ensures defendants are informed of their right to counsel (especially if confinement is sought), and specifies that proof of contempt requires clear and convincing evidence. These changes standardize procedures for handling contempt cases across Oregon courts.

] Requires a [ communications provider ] social media platform to respond to a search warrant within 72 hours of service , and all other communications providers to respond within five business days of service, when the warrant pertains to an investigation of stalking or a crime constituting domestic violence. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Reduces penalties for driving while suspended if the suspension is due to a conviction for criminal mischief resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle or reckless driving. Punishes by a maximum of $2,000 fine. Increases the crime category, for the sentencing guidelines grid of the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, for felony fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer when the defendant has a prior conviction or causes injury. Establishes a final time period for any person to file a petition for post-conviction relief based on a nonunanimous jury verdict. Creates a procedure by which the Department of Corrections or the state can petition the sentencing court, after determining that a person was released from department custody as the result of a material error in sentence computation or legal interpretation, for a determination as to whether the person is subject to further incarceration. Provides for a process for requesting and ordering that the person be held or taken into custody pending the hearing. Establishes time limits on when petitions can be filed. Requires the Department of Corrections to provide notice to specified persons after performing certain sentence recomputations that result in a new projected release date. Limits how presentence incarceration credit may be applied in specified circumstances. [ Authorizes ] Requires the Department of Corrections to grant an additional 120 days of short-term transitional leave to certain persons released from custody due to a material error in sentence computation or legal interpretation concerning presentence incarceration credits. Increases the dollar amounts in specified property crimes that serve as a minimum value amount of damages or stolen property or as a threshold between offense levels of the crime. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.