Oregon Sex Offender Registry Guide: What You Need to Know
The Oregon Sex Offender Registry keeps track of certain individuals who have been charged with a sex crime. The laws surrounding the sex offender registry in Oregon are detailed. Not everyone who has been charged with a sex crime has to register, and not all offenders are posted in the online registry.
Have questions about the registry? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the Oregon sex offender registry.
Sex Offender Housing in Oregon
After release from prison or a psychiatric facility, Oregon state law stipulates where a sex offender can live. According to Oregon law, sexually violent dangerous offenders or predatory offenders are not allowed to live in a home where children are primary occupants. This law doesn’t apply to transitional housing, which is considered housing used by the offender for less than 45 days after being released from custody.
Other states have strict laws about how close a sex offender can live to a school or other community safe zone. Oregon has no law limiting how close a sex offender is allowed to live schools and parks. However, the Board of Parole can make decisions about offender housing in the interest of public safety.
Oregon Sex Offender Laws
Oregon has several laws regarding the registration and reporting of sex offenders. Sex offenders are those who have been convicted guilty of a sex crime, except by insanity. The requirements for registering in Oregon apply to sex offenders convicted in Oregon or those who have been convicted elsewhere in the United States and have moved to Oregon. However, not all juveniles adjudicated of a sex crime have to register in Oregon.
Offenders are classified into levels of risk, from Level 1, Low Risk, to Level 3, High Risk. As of January 2019, registrants can apply for relief from reporting or reclassification under certain circumstances.
Beginning March 2020, sex offenders were able to report by phone to reduce the community spread of COVID-19. However, as of June 1, 2022, all reporting must be done in person. No reporting will be accepted via phone.
Oregon Sex Offender Registry Level 1
Throughout the United States, including in Oregon, three levels of risk are used to classify sex offenders to protect the public. The Board of Parole conducts the assessment, using a tool called the Static-99R for adult male offenders. Other offenders are evaluated in person to be assigned a risk level. Level 1 is the lowest risk to the public, with Level 3 being the highest. Only Level 3 sex offenders have their information posted on the Oregon sex offender registry website. However, all sex offenders must follow the laws for reporting.
How Do I Look Up Sex Offenders in Oregon?
The Oregon State Police posts the information of certain sex offenders on their website. However, this only includes Level 3 offenders, who are considered the most dangerous offenders to the public. Currently, as of 2022, there are 1,266 Level 3 sex offenders posted on the website. The sex offender registry in Oregon keeps track of about 32,000 offenders, but per Oregon law, their information can only be released in certain ways. Some information can only be requested by naming the specific offender. You can email 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.
How Long Do Offenders Stay on the Registry in Oregon?
In Oregon, sex offenders stay on the registry for life, unless they have applied for relief from registration. In order to be considered for relief, the offender must be classified as a Level 1 offender. Five years after a Level 1 offender’s supervision ends, they may apply for a hearing with the Board of Parole. If the offender was reclassified from a Level 2 to a Level 1 offender, they may apply five years after the reclassification.
What Are the Requirements for Registering?
After release from custody, Oregon sex offenders have ten days to report to their county law enforcement agency and register their address. After the initial registration, the sex offender must report within ten days of the following:
The sex offender’s birthday
Moving to a new address
Starting or stopping work at an institute of higher education
Attending or ending enrollment at an institute of higher education
Legally changing his or her name
Additionally, sex offenders must report their plans to travel outside of the United States twenty-one days before leaving the country. Sex offenders moving to Oregon must register within ten days of moving in state and follow the above guidelines for reporting.
Qualifying Offenses in Oregon
In Oregon, the following is a list of some of the sex crimes that might qualify an offender to register:
Rape
Sodomy
Sexual abuse
Online sex crimes involving child pornography
Incest with a child
Encouraging child sexual abuse
Compelling or promoting prostitution
Kidnapping in the first degree if the victim is under 18
Kidnapping in the second degree if the victim is under 18, except by a parent
Luring a minor
Purchasing sex with a minor
Public indecency
Sexual assault of an animal
Trafficking
What Rules Do Sex Offenders in Oregon Need to Live By?
After an offender has registered, they are required to live by the following rules:
No contact with minors
No drug or alcohol use
Mandatory treatment
No communication with their victims
Can Oregon Sex Offenders Get Off the Registry?
Yes. If the offender has been classified as a Level 1 risk to the public, they may apply for relief from registration five years after their parole or supervision ends.
Does the Statute of Limitations Apply to Sex Crimes in Oregon?
In Oregon, the statute of limitations for sex crimes varies, depending on the age of the victim and the severity of the crime. Rape or sexual abuse of a child must be filed before the victim turns thirty or within twelve years of the crime being reported. For other sex crimes, including rape and sexual abuse, the statute of limitations is six years.
However, if there is DNA evidence, the statute of limitations has different limits. In first-degree sex crimes, there is no statute of limitations if DNA evidence exists. In second-degree crimes, there is a twenty-five-year statute of limitation if DNA evidence exists.
Hiring a Defense Lawyer for Your Case
If you’re being charged with a sex crime, you need an experienced defense lawyer on your side. Whether you’re looking for relief from registration or defense for your case, Shannon Powell Law can represent you. With our passion for justice, we’ll do our best to give you the best outcome and protect your rights. While we’re based in Beaverton, we serve the entire Portland area. Contact Shannon Powell Law today for a consultation.
*Nothing herein constitutes legal advice. You should obtain independent legal counsel regarding your specific factual situation.
