Portland Violent Crime Defense Attorneys

Criminal Defense Lawyers in Portland, Oregon

A violent crime is an offense which usually involves certain person to person crimes of violence, force or threats of violence. If you have been arrested for or accused of any type of violent crime, you need a defense lawyer on your side to defend your rights as soon as possible.

In Oregon, you may face mandatory minimum prison sentences for a number of violent crimes. Fortunately, a Portland criminal defense attorney can work to protect your rights and help you avoid a conviction and these penalties altogether. At our firm, we take on violent crime cases including, but not limited to:

Oregon Ballot Measure 11 Crimes and Penalties

In 1994, Oregon voters passed Ballot Measure 11, an enactment which established mandatory minimum sentences for particular violent crimes. Crimes covered under Measure 11 include: murder, manslaughter, assault, kidnapping, rape, sodomy, unlawful penetration, sexual abuse and robbery. Ballot Measure 11 mandates that a judge cannot give a sentence less than those outlined in the Measure, that sentences cannot be reduced below the minimum for parole or good behavior, and that juvenile offenders over 15 years old be tried as adults for these particular offenses.

Ballot Measure 11 has made being charged with a violent crime an even more serious and life-changing situation to find oneself in. In the face of such harsh repercussions, it is of the utmost importance that you consult a criminal defense lawyer as soon as you or a loved one has been arrested or as soon as you become aware that you are a potential suspect in a criminal investigation. There is no time to waste; every second counts in building your defense and protecting your rights.

Why You Need a Criminal Defense Attorney

Your attorney will be the only person in the courtroom who will be asserting your rights and working to protect your future. When facing mandatory minimum sentences for a violent crime conviction, it becomes all the more apparent that a skilled attorney will make all the difference in your future and your freedom.

Contact a Portland defense lawyer at our firm regarding your violent crime charges.