§ 138.680 Short title

This rule simply gives a name to a group of related laws. The laws numbered ORS 138.510 through 138.680 are officially called the "Post-Conviction Hearing Act."

This naming makes it easier for people to talk about and reference these laws. Instead of listing out every individual law number, someone can just mention the "Post-Conviction Hearing Act" and everyone will know which set of rules they mean.

These laws deal with post-conviction relief, which is a legal process that lets someone who has been convicted of a crime ask a court to review their case after their trial and direct appeals are finished. This is often used when someone believes there was a serious problem with their case, such as a violation of their constitutional rights.