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Criminal Cases

Eligibility

Persons who are charged with a crime and who cannot afford to hire an attorney may request the court to appoint an attorney at state expense. In addition, a court appointed attorney may be requested in a juvenile dependency (abuse or neglect), termination of parental rights, or juvenile delinquency proceeding.

Persons who are involved in a civil proceeding, such as domestic relations matters, personal injury, landlord / tenant, bankruptcy, or employment cases are NOT eligible for a court appointed attorney at state expense.


Application Process

If you would like to apply for court appointed attorney, you will need to complete an Affidavit of Eligibility. You may request court appointed counsel at your first court appearance. You may apply BEFORE your arraignment date.
There is typically a $20.00 application fee and depending on your financial situation the court may charge an additional contribution amount. If you are convicted of a crime, the court may require you to repay some or all of the cost of your Court Appointed Attorney if it determines you are able.


How To Submit Your Application

It is the Courts preference that application is completed and submitted online using the Odyssey Guide & File service.

If you are unable to access Guide & File, blank forms can be found in our Criminal Forms section or in-person at the Trial Court Administrator’s front counter. Completed, original, applications can be returned in the mail, delivered in-person at the front counter, or placed in the drop-box in the front lobby of the courthouse. Follow-up regarding applications is done over the telephone. Please ensure that you are providing the correct phone number on your application. For additional information please contact the court verifier at 503-397-2327 ext. 70129.

If you do not qualify for a court-appointed attorney, you will need to hire an attorney on your own. You may seek private legal counsel at any time.
The Oregon State Bar offers information and a lawyer referral service as well as a Modest Means Program.
The Columbia County Indigent Defense Corporation
Phone: 503-366-1790
Email: ccconsortium@gmail.com
Justice Alliance of Columbia County
Phone: 971-813-6245
Email: admin@jacclawyers.com

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Columbia County Criminal Case Flow Management

The two principles that guide the Columbia County Circuit Court criminal case flow management plan are (1) each hearing should be meaningful and (2) unnecessary delay is to be prevented.

Hearings that require an in-person appearance:

  • Out Of Custody Arraignments
  • Pretrial Conferences
  • Judicial Settlement Conferences
  • Trials
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Please see the ​public calendar to find out the exact date and time of your hearing.

A Columbia County Circuit Court Judge sets the amount of security release (bail) on behalf of the defendant on various counts listed on the case. At any time, the court may increase or decrease the amount of security release required.

  • Security release can be posted at the Sheriff’s Office or the Trial Court Administrator’s Office.
  • Payment must be in the form of cash or credit/debit card only.
  • Please note that security release paid by credit card may be subject to fees charged by your bank, which are nonrefundable. Please contact your bank before considering posting bail with this payment method.

Things to consider before posting security release for yourself or another person

  • The court will automatically keep 15% of the security release posted (not less than $5.00 and not more than $750.00).
  • The court will, unless otherwise ordered, apply the security release deposit to any financial obligations on the case to which it was posted, and any other financial obligations the defendant owes within the State of Oregon, including child support arrears.
  • If the defendant fails to appear at the next scheduled court hearing, the court may order forfeiture of the entire security release posted, as well as a security judgment for the full amount of the ordered security release. Example: Judge orders $10,000 security release, 10% posted is $1,000 for defendant’s release. If a security judgment is imposed, the payee will be responsible for the full amount of the $10,000.
  • Refunds are disbursed to the person posting the bail once the case is closed or exonerated and will be mailed to the address listed on the bail receipt. If a change of address is needed, a written request must be submitted to the court by the person posting the bail.
  • If bail funds are deposited in the Inmates Trust Account by anyone other than the defendant, and the defendant self-bails, a refund will be issued to the defendant – not the person depositing the funds in the account.
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If you failed to appear for a scheduled court date and a warrant was issued for your arrest, contact the court at 503-397-2327 ext. 24014 to schedule an appearance on the warrant.​

Violations include citations for: traffic, fish and game, state park, minor in possession of alcohol, and truancy.

Please review your citation for your appearance date and time.

You may “appear” by contacting the Violations clerk at 503-397-2327 ext. 24010

Plea Options

No Contest Plea

When you enter a plea of no contest, you waive your right to trial. Your fine will be assessed at the time you enter your no contest plea.

Not Guilty Plea

If you plead not guilty, the case will be set for trial and you will receive notice of the trial date in the mail. At the trial you may present evidence and call witnesses.

Trial by Declaration

You may choose to have your trial by declaration. You must submit a Violation Election Form with your declaration to the court. If you choose not to testify you do not have to submit a declaration, however, the court will consider the officer’s declaration in reaching a decision.

Failure to Appear

If you do not appear on or before your first appearance date, the clerk will enter a default judgment. The entire presumptive fine will be charged along with any additional fees or assessments.

Violations Trials

When you appear at the courthouse for your trial, be prepared to present your case at the time listed on your trial notice. You do not have to testify if you do not want to. If you choose not to testify, the judge will not hold that against you and will base his or her decision on the evidence that is presented. If you fail to appear for trial after a plea of not guilty, the court will take testimony from the officer and make a ruling from the evidence presented.

Please see our Forms page​ for traffic violation related forms.

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Did you get a citation (ticket) for drug possession? If so, read this.

A new law (2020 Ballot Measure 110) makes some types of Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS, or illegal drug possession) a violation instead of a crime. That means if a person is convicted, they cannot go to jail or prison but may have to pay a fine.

If you have received a citation (ticket) for possession of a controlled substance after February 1, 2021, read the citation. If it says “PCS" or “Possession," lists a fine of $100, and lists one of the law numbers at the bottom of this page, follow these special instructions. If not, follow the directions on the citation.


If you are accused of a PCS violation, here are your options:

  1. “Appear" in court and plead not guilty. Follow the instructions on your ticket. “Appear" doesn't necessarily mean you have to come to the courthouse. You may “appear" by contacting the Violations clerk at 503-397-2327 ext. 24010

  2. Plead 'no contest' and pay the $100 fine. Follow the instructions on the ticket or pay online at OJD Courts ePay

  3. Ask the court to reduce your fine. Follow the instructions on the ticket to “appear" in court. You may “appear" by contacting the Violations clerk at 503-397-2327 ext. 24010

  4. Obtain a health assessment and avoid a fine. Follow these instructions:
    • Call 503-575-3769. Someone will answer 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
    • Tell the person you want a Measure 110 health assessment.
      • In order to avoid paying a fine, you will need to complete an assessment within 45 days of the date of your citation.
      • They will ask you questions to see if you need medical treatment, substance abuse treatment, or other services.
      • When you complete the assessment, you will get a verification letter stating that you have completed the health assessment.
      • Send the original verification letter to the court. You must prove you completed the assessment if you don't want to pay the fine. Please keep a copy for your records.
      • The court will waive the fine, but enter your conviction for the charge.

If you have questions regarding a citation for Columbia County, please contact the Court at 503-397-2327 ext. 24010.

Law numbers involved in new PCS violations are:

ORS 475.752(3)(a)
ORS 475.834
         475.752(3)(b)         475.854
         475.752(3)(c)
         475.874
         475.752(3)(d)
         475.884
         475.824
         475.894

Measure 110 Fact Sheet
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