Oregon
Oregon bill could allow domestic violence survivors who commit crimes less jail time
Oregon prisons by the numbers
The Oregon Department of Corrections houses 12,046 inmates.
Survivors of domestic violence who commit crimes while being abused could see reduced sentences under a bill introduced in the Oregon Senate.
Senate Bill 1179 received a public hearing on Tuesday in the Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee.
The bill would require the sentencing court to consider abuse as mitigation evidence under certain circumstances and would allow people currently serving a sentence to petition for resentencing under the same terms.
Domestic violence survivors and advocates supported the bill, but prosecutors raised concerns it would create an opportunity for abusers, who often claim to be the victims, to take advantage of the system.
The bill would allow the court to impose a reduced sentence, even if the crime carries a mandatory minimum. The bill would also create a Task Force on Services and Support for Incarcerated Domestic Violence Survivors, which would make recommendations on programs and services for those in custody and necessary changes in facility operations to prevent retraumatization.
Crystal Magaña, a survivor of domestic violence who was incarcerated for 17 years for manslaughter, urged the senators to support the bill. While incarcerated, she said she was unable to access supportive services because she did not have addiction issues and no other programs were available. She said she was “defending her life” when she committed the crime.
“If this bill was around when my crime had happened, things could have looked a lot differently. I say that because when I was 14, I was forced into prostitution by the man who was also the father to my daughter,” she said. “The criminal justice system didn’t consider that I was living in domestic violence.”
If the defendant is a survivor of domestic abuse, the court would be required to determine if the abuse was ongoing at the time of the criminal behavior, if it was a contributing factor to the crime, and if the presumptive or mandatory sentence would be “unduly harsh in light of the circumstances.”
Sentencing guidelines in Oregon depend on the severity of the crime and the defendant’s criminal history. A grid is used to determine the presumptive sentence in accordance with those two factors.
About 20 major crimes, such as murder, carry a mandatory minimum prison sentence under Measure 11. The court would be allowed to disregard the mandatory minimum in favor of a lesser sentence if the defendant meets the terms set by the bill.
A study published by the Oregon Justice Resource Center in 2019 found that 44% of incarcerated women who were in a relationship at the time of arrest said they had experienced domestic abuse and that the abuse was a contributing factor to their criminal behavior.
Aaron Knott with the Oregon Judicial Department said the department anticipates “significant” fiscal and operational impacts from the bill, due to what he characterized as a large number of people who would have a right to petition for resentencing.
Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth said several measures, such as a defense called “choice of evils,” already exist to protect survivors of domestic abuse who commit crimes and expressed concern that abusers would weaponize the bill.
“Almost every single time a domestic abuser is charged with assault, strangulation or menacing, they don’t deny that it happened, they claim instead that they were completely justified in doing so,” Wentworth said. “Far more often than not, the domestic abuser will offer that they are the actual victim.”
A bill that would have accomplished the same thing was previously introduced in the 2023 legislative session, but was still in committee when the session ended.
Two other bills related to defendants’ eligibility for criminal discharge and what convictions qualify for prohibiting firearm possession also had hearings Tuesday.
Oregon bill would expand eligibility for pre-plea discharge
Senate Bill 1169 would allow defendants of all crimes, excluding Measure 11 and driving under the influence of intoxicants, to be eligible for pre-plea conditional discharge.
Under current law, a defendant charged with a misdemeanor or class C felony who has been accepted into a specialty court is eligible to be placed on probation with further proceedings deferred, on certain conditions. Specialty courts, like mental health court or drug court, typically require defendants to enter a guilty plea and participate in a treatment plan. Successful participation can result in dismissal of charges or a reduced sentence.
The bill would expand release eligibility to almost all defendants and remove the requirement of specialty court acceptance and the district attorney’s consent.
Public defenders testified in support of the bill, saying it would give courts another tool to resolve cases while connecting defendants with services. Prosecutors, however, opposed the bill, saying it removes the district attorney from the criminal justice process and lacks specificity in the requirements and conditions for defendants.
Knott said the judicial department is neutral on the bill, but raised concerns about the lack of resources in the bill. He noted the expansion of conditional discharge in the bill doesn’t create additional probation officers or specialty courts, so defendants could be left without support to satisfy the terms of their discharge.
New bill would make domestic harassment not a disqualifier for firearm possession
Under current Oregon law, a person convicted of a “qualifying misdemeanor” involving a family or household member is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Senate Bill 1172 would clarify that the crime of harassment is not a qualifying misdemeanor.
State Sen. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, presented on the bill. He explained it was introduced to settle a dispute between the state appellate courts, which found harassment did not qualify as a qualifying misdemeanor, and the state Supreme Court, which found that it did.
Domestic violence advocates testified against the bill, saying harassment, while not necessarily always violent, leads to domestic violence.
Gina Skinner, a deputy district attorney in Washington County, said cases of more severe levels of physical violence and abuse often result in harassment convictions through plea negotiations.
Penny Okamoto, who testified as a board member of Ceasefire Oregon, said harassment is a dangerous issue.
“As a woman, I’ve certainly had men lay hands on me in a nonviolent way that was very unwelcome, very unwanted, very much considered a threat by me and very much considered harassment by me,” she said.
Isabel Funk covers breaking news and public safety for the Statesman Journal. Funk can be reached at ifunk@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @isabeldfunk
SALEM, Ore. (KATU) — As Oregon approaches the summer months, Governor Tina Kotek and other state agency leaders are preparing for wildfire season.
On Tuesday morning, Gov. Kotek joined the Oregon State Fire Marshal, the heads of departments like forestry and emergency management, and public utility spokespeople to discuss the 2026 wildfire season.
They will also be taking questions from reporters – you can watch the full press conference here:
The governor and departments that fight wildfires also gave a tour of the equipment they use in the field when battling blazes across the state.
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PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – A major fundraiser to support local shelter animals is coming up this weekend. Oregon Humane’s Doggie Dash 2026 helps pet families across the state.
Despite the name, this year’s event is going to the cats.
“Doggie Dash is one our biggest fundraisers we do,” said Dr. Steve Kochis, chief medical officer at Oregon Humane. “Sometimes we do see some cats at the event that are on a harness in a carrier or in a backpack. While we do have Doggie Dash as the name, we are Oregon Humane and still raise money for all the pets we help.”
Access to veterinary care
With Portland’s Doggie Dash right around the corner, Kochis wants people to be aware of some of the bigger issues Oregon Humane is trying to tackle.
“It’s been an ongoing struggle with access to services, access to veterinary care, and with that comes lack of access to spay and neuter services,” Kochis said. “And then it doesn’t take long for cats to reproduce and overpopulate.”
Kelly Bremken, a veterinary social worker at Oregon Humane, said a recent case in Marion County illustrates the problem.
“Recently in Marion County there was a family who had cats they loved very much, but without access to affordable spay and neuter in their area they became overrun with cats,” Bremken said.
Oregon Humane took in 35 cats from that home, including one named Snotty Pippins after the veterinary team had to clean out his sinuses.
Connecting people and pets to resources
Bremken’s job as veterinary social worker is to find the intersection between the help people need and their pets on cases like this one.
“We really think improving the life of the person can improve the life of the pet,” Bremken said. “We want that for everybody.”
Events like Doggie Dash make sure Bremken can continue to connect community members to the resources they need for their pets.
“We want folks to know they can call on us, get assistance, and we are there for the long haul,” Bremken said.
Oregon Humane’s Doggie Dash is one of the largest gatherings of pets and people on the West Coast. Registration is $25. Doggie Dash Portland takes place Saturday, May 9, at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. A Salem event is scheduled for Saturday, June 6.
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Nonprofits serving every corner of Oregon — from domestic and sexual violence survivors in Yamhill County to Spanish-language radio listeners in the Columbia River Gorge and families rebuilding in Central Oregon — will share nearly $5.2 million in new grants from the Oregon Community Foundation.
In all, 258 grants will support organizations through several Oregon Community Foundation grant programs, with awards going to organizations serving all 36 Oregon counties. Most of the funding, $4.77 million, comes through the foundation’s Community Grants program and will go to 252 organizations.
“Oregon is full of people working hard to improve the lives of our neighbors across the state, and we’re grateful to our donors for sharing resources to support big ideas and smart solutions,” said Kim Koenig, director of community programs for Oregon Community Foundation.
Community Grants provide general operating support, a flexible funding source nonprofits can use for needs ranging from stabilizing staffing to strengthening programs or maintaining infrastructure. This cycle, the foundation prioritized organizations that have historically experienced underinvestment, including those serving small, rural communities and those that are culturally specific or culturally responsive. Nearly half of the grants went to organizations focused on economic vitality and livability.
Among the recipients is Row River Fire Response, which received a grant to protect residents of the 20-mile Row River Valley in Lane County.
“We started this work in 2022 with a goal of fire protection in the valley, and in 2024, the community came together to create a volunteer fire district,” said Kathleen Istudor, executive director. “Now in 2026, that effort continues to grow as we work to build a main fire station for our volunteers. Along the way, we have come to see how connected we are, not just to each other, but to the land, the watershed and the people beyond our valley.”
Yachats Youth & Family Activities Program will use its grant to support preschool, summer camp, afterschool activities and other programming for families on the North Coast.
“We try to keep tuition as low as possible so that we can ensure services to all families who walk through our doors,” said Kristina Anderson, executive director.
The Oregon Community Foundation also announced additional grantmaking across several focus areas:
Arts and culture: $250,000 to build arts sector infrastructure. In 2022, the foundation established a learning community for arts educators that led to the Oregon Arts Education Collective, a program connecting educators and advocates to cultivate a thriving arts ecosystem across the state. A grant will support the Collective as members develop infrastructure and build coalitions that advance arts and culture.
Arts and culture: $50,000 to preserve and inspire the field of architecture. A fund that advances professional development for design and building professionals will award a $50,000 fellowship through the Van Evera and Janet M. Bailey fund, supporting the Van Evera Baily Fellowship designed and administered by the Architecture Foundation of Oregon in partnership with the Oregon Community Foundation.
Economic vitality: $37,500 to support the sector and small businesses. The foundation said these grants will support nonprofits helping communities build and sustain strong local economies, including efforts to expand entrepreneurship, strengthen small businesses and increase access to opportunity.
Housing stability: $30,000 for homelessness response. These grants support research around best practices for organizations helping Oregonians stay housed and regain stability.
Several organizations highlighted in community stories described how grant support can help meet local needs.
Furnish Hope, based in Central Oregon, said it helps people restarting after unexpected and often traumatic events by furnishing homes with donated items.
“We believe that everybody needs a place to call home and that there are people all throughout our community that are working really hard to get back on their feet after something unexpected and oftentimes traumatic has happened,” said Megan Martin, founding executive director. “We’ve furnished over 3,000 homes in seven years. On average, we furnish 50 or more homes each month. Our vision is to see this region transformed by hope. And the vehicle that we use to bring hope to people is furniture.”
In Yamhill County, Henderson House said it provides confidential services for victims of domestic and sexual violence, including emergency shelter, advocacy and culturally relevant support for the Latinx population.
“We were founded and are currently led by survivors of domestic and sexual violence. We are the only domestic and sexual violence confidential victim services provider in Yamhill County,” said Fay Schuler, executive director.
In Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley Mentoring said it connects youth ages 9-24 with trained adult mentors through one-to-one relationships and mentoring circles.
“Our work makes a difference because it addresses a fundamental human need: connection,” said Laura Pinney, executive director.
The Oregon Community Foundation, founded in 1973, said it distributes more than $200 million in grants and scholarships statewide each year in partnership with donors and volunteers.
The foundation said individuals, families, businesses and organizations can work with OCF to create charitable funds supporting causes important to them.
More information is available here.
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