Apr 4, 2019
PORTLAND, Ore. – The ACLU of Oregon, Disability Rights Oregon, a former prosecutor, and two state legislators were among those who testified at the Oregon Capitol today in support of House Bill 3224, calling on the Oregon Legislature to require all 36 Oregon district attorneys to have written policies that guide their work.
HB 3224 is in response to a new report released by the ACLU of Oregon that found that at least 40 percent of Oregon’s District Attorneys do not have internal written policies to guide their core work within the justice system.
Apr 2, 2019
PORTLAND, Ore. – A new report released by the ACLU of Oregon found that at least 40 percent of Oregon’s District Attorneys do not have internal written policies to guide their core work within the criminal justice system.
“District Attorneys are the most powerful actors in the criminal justice system and Oregon law provides DAs with enormous discretion to make decisions about who and how people are prosecuted,” said david rogers, executive director the ACLU of Oregon. “The lack of written policies among Oregon’s DA offices is deeply troubling, particularly when you consider the critical role DAs play in the justice system.”
Jan 31, 2019
SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Supreme Court unanimously ruled today in State v. Vallin that the 2017 Safety and Savings Act was constitutionally enacted. This ruling ends regressive attempts by a number of district attorney offices, led by Clackamas County DA John Foote, to block important criminal sentencing modifications designed to prevent the need to open another state women’s prison.
“The court today affirmed that the Legislature has the power to do their job and update criminal justice and public safety policies based on new information, research, best practices, and budget constraints,” said david rogers, executive director of the ACLU of Oregon. “When criminal justice policies are proven to be ineffective or too costly, we shouldn’t make it harder for our legislators to pass important reforms.”
May 15, 2018
HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Washington County race for district attorney drew an unprecedented amount of attention and interest. ACLU of Oregon Executive Director david rogers had the following comment about tonight’s results:
“The tremendous interest in the Washington County district attorney race shows that Oregon’s political landscape is changing for this powerful elected position.
Aug 27, 2017
BEAVERTON, Ore. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon (ACLU of Oregon) announced today it is launching a major new campaign to make Oregon’s criminal justice system more effective, fair, and accountable.
They Report to You aims to redefine the role of district attorneys, who are the most powerful people in the criminal justice system and have the ability to make the system more fair, equitable and accountable.
March 1, 2017
Poll: Oregonians strongly support reducing drug sentences. PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon voters overwhelmingly support a proposal to reduce penalties for drug possession, according to a new poll. The poll comes as a new bill, supported by Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon (ACLU of Oregon,) would change small-scale drug possession to a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
April 20, 2016:
ACLU Releases Report on Oregon DAs Report reveals nearly eight out of 10 district attorney races are uncontested, highlights role of governor in appointments. PORTLAND, Ore. – Between 2004 and 2014, 78% of Oregon district attorney (DA) races were uncontested, and over 1 million Oregonians did not cast votes in their DA race, reveals a report released today by the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon. District attorneys are rarely challenged even though they have a powerful role in our criminal justice system.