§ 147.607 Legislative findings

Oregon lawmakers are explaining why they passed rules protecting restorative justice programs. These programs bring together crime victims, survivors, and others affected by a crime to talk things through and help everyone heal.

The state believes these conversations work best when people feel safe being completely honest. If someone knows what they say might later be used against them in court, they won't open up. So lawmakers decided that what people share during these facilitated conversations should stay private and confidential.

This means that in most cases, nothing said during a restorative justice dialogue can be used as evidence in a later court case. There are some limited exceptions written into the law, but the general rule protects these conversations so people can speak freely without fear that their words will come back to hurt them legally.