News & Commentary

Here’s what past criminal law rulings tell us about how the justices may interpret the law moving forward.

Hundreds of Oregonians are currently in legal jeopardy because the state government is failing to uphold its constitutional duty to provide adequate legal counsel to those who can’t afford a private attorney.

No one should face criminal charges without access to an attorney, regardless of financial resources. Yet hundreds of Oregonians are currently stuck in limbo because the state government has failed to uphold its constitutional responsibility to provide adequate legal counsel.

Her actions remind us that compassionate mercy and restorative justice are not in conflict with public safety.

Reflections on protests and police accountability in Portland and our path forward

Key bills are at the make-or-break point in the 2021 legislative session and it's on us to demand that our lawmakers take them across the finish line. Contacting your lawmakers truly does make a difference: When they see that their constituents are passionate about an issue and a specific piece of legislation, good things happen. 

 Do I sleep in the park and violate the camping ban, or do I trespass onto private property? Where can I go to the bathroom? Where can I set my stuff down without attracting attention from police?Homelessness and housing are a growing problem in Oregon.  The region has seen the third highest increase in homelessness nationwide, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In 2015, HUD counted 13,100 adults and children experiencing homelessness in Oregon. Of those Oregonians experiencing homelessness, HUD found one-in-ten was a military veteran, one-in-seven was identified as having a serious mental illness

Longer criminal sentences are not always the path to justice, safety, or solving challenging social problems.