Oregon Statutes 203.810 – Offenses under county law; jurisdiction; prosecutions; enforcement
(1) As used in this section:
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 203.810
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(a) ‘County law’ means a county charter adopted pursuant to ORS § 203.710 to 203.770 and legislation passed by a charter county or any ordinance enacted by a general law county.
(b) ‘County offense’ means any crime or offense defined or made punishable by county law.
(2) Except as may be provided otherwise by county law:
(a) The justice courts and circuit court for a county have jurisdiction of county offenses to the same extent as such courts have jurisdiction of crimes or offenses defined or made punishable by state law, as determined by the maximum punishment which may be imposed therefor.
(b) The district attorney shall prosecute county offenses unless the county governing body elects to have the prosecution of such offenses conducted by a county counsel appointed pursuant to ORS § 203.145.
(c) The practice and procedure as to the prosecution, trial and punishment of county offenses shall be the same as in the case of similar crimes or offenses defined or made punishable by state law.
(3) Except as may be provided otherwise by county law and subject to limitations on its civil jurisdiction under state law, the justice court and circuit court for a county have jurisdiction of a civil proceeding maintained by a county under ORS § 30.310 or 30.315, including a proceeding to abate or enjoin any act or condition that is declared to be a nuisance by an ordinance of the county.
(4) Judgments based on county offenses may be enforced in the manner provided by ORS § 52.600. [1961 c.724 § 33; 1963 c.611 § 1; 1977 c.622 § 1; 1981 c.75 § 1; 1985 c.626 § 2; 1995 c.658 § 91; 1999 c.788 § 49]