Murder in Oregon law

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Murder in Oregon constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Oregon.

Contents

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in the year 2020, the state had a murder rate well below the median for the entire country. [1]

Felony murder rule

In the state of Oregon, the common law felony murder rule has been codified in Oregon Revised Statutes § 163.115. [2]

Murder

Under § 163.115, anyone in a group or alone that commits or attempts to commit a predicate felony, and in furtherance of the crime or in the immediate flight therefrom causes the death of a person other than one of the participants is guilty of murder. The predicate felonies are: [3]

Affirmative defenses

§ 163.115(3) provides affirmative defenses to murder under the felony murder rule. [4] It is an affirmative defense that the defendant:

Penalties

OffenseMandatory sentencing
Murder Life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 25 years
Aggravated murder

Notes

  1. Oregon has had a moratorium on the death penalty since 2011.

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References

  1. "National Center for Health Statistics: Homicide Mortality by State". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 16, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  2. Oregon Revised Statutes Annotated, § 163.115 (West 2003)
  3. Bonnie, R.J. et al. Criminal Law, Second Edition. Foundation Press, New York: 2004, p. B-33
  4. Bonnie, p. B-33