Oregon Voices

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Who We Are

A volunteer, non-profit organization composed of Oregonians committed to justice and reason in laws relating to sex crimes. We are fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, grandparents — members of families that contain victims of sexual abuse as well as those who have committed sexual offenses.

What We Do

  • We provide resources — emotional support and advocacy for individuals, their families and friends who are caught up in the web of sex offense prosecution, incarceration and re-entry.
  • We work with attorneys and other groups to widen support for registrants in rebuilding responsible lives in the community.
  • We research all aspects of sex offenses and society’s response to them in order to discover evidence based practices that promote public safety.
  • We bring the best current research to work for change in a system that is often at odds with what the research tells us.

What Oregon Voices Believes

  • No sexual abuse or sexual assault is ever acceptable. All victims of abuse have the right to seek justice in a system that is objective and supportive.
  • The current legal classification of “sex offender” creates a one-size-fits-all enforcement system, wasting taxpayer dollars, diluting the supervision of dangerous offenders, and reducing public safety.
  • Mandatory sentencing laws prevent judges from determining appropriate punishments.
  • The registry does not protect children from abuse; it does undermine the safety and stability of families of registrants.
  • Money spent on punitive measures, including the registry, would be better spent on education, healing and rehabilitation.
  • We must counter unsupported myths about sex offenses with facts that are supported by evidence.

CURRENT ISSUES AND EVENTS

Our next OV general meeting will be in May and may well again be on Zoom. We will resume our Oregon City meetings as soon as feasible. Watch your email for details.

COVID REGISTRATION UPDATE

Since March, 2020, due to the pandemic, the Oregon State Police have allowed telephone registration. Since Oregon law specifies in-person registration, check the “Register by Phone” link on the OSP website for possible resumption.

COVID IN OUR PRISONS

On March 11, the DOC website stated that it had offered Covid-19 vaccine to all 13,200 inmates. A lawsuit resulted in a judicial order that prisons be treated as congregate care facilities. To date, 69% have had one dose and 10% are fully vaccinated.

CURRENT OREGON LEGISLATIVE SESSION

There are now 32 bills that OV is following that deal peripherally or directly with sex offense issues. We submit letters to relevant committees, in support or suggesting concerns. We have never seen so many bills that we can support. SB191, SB401 and HB 2002 stand out as attempts to make Measure 11 changes. All have committee hearings and are being sent to work sessions, an indication a version(s) may go forward in some form. All of them apply to all categories of crime with no exclusions. You can follow all bills on OLIS (Oregon Legislative Information System) or write info@oregonvoices.org with questions or comments.

REGISTRATION RELIEF HEARINGS

OV would like to congratulate two former registrants on our email list who were granted relief from registration in the last two months.  They are part of the 80% who have been successful.

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Contact Us

info@oregonvoices.org
971-317-6868
Oregon Voices
P.O. Box 13175
Salem, OR 97309

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