§ 131.025 Parties in criminal action

When someone is charged with a crime in Oregon, the case is set up with two sides. The State of Oregon acts as the plaintiff, which means the state is the one bringing the charges. The person who is accused of breaking the law is the defendant.

This applies to state crimes, like felonies and most misdemeanors. It does not apply to cases involving city or county ordinance violations, since those are handled differently and are not brought by the state itself.

In simple terms, if you are charged with a state crime in Oregon, you will see "State of Oregon" listed against your name on court papers. That is because the state, not an individual person or agency, is technically the party pursuing the case against you.