OREGON BIAS CRIME LAWS



David N Lesh
Oregon Criminal Defense Attorney
Oregon Super Lawyer 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

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    ORS 166.155 Bias Crime in the Second Degree.

 

   (1) A person commits a bias crime in the second degree if the person:

 

      (a) Tampers or interferes with property, having no right to do so nor reasonable ground to believe that the person has such right, with the intent to cause substantial inconvenience to another person because of the person’s perception of the other person’s race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or national origin;

 

      (b) Intentionally subjects another person to offensive physical contact because of the person’s perception of the other person’s race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or national origin; or

 

      (c) Intentionally, because of the person’s perception of race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or national origin of another person or of a member of the other person’s family, subjects the other person to alarm by threatening:

 

      (A) To inflict serious physical injury upon or to commit a felony affecting the other person, or a member of the other person’s family; or

      (B) To cause substantial damage to the property of the other person or of a member of the other person’s family.

 

  (2) A bias crime in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor.

 

  (3) As used in this section and ORS 166.165:

 

      (a) “Gender identity” means an individual’s gender-related identity, appearance, expression or behavior, regardless of whether the identity, appearance, expression or behavior differs from that associated with the gender assigned to the individual at birth.

 

      (b) “Property” means any tangible personal property or real property. [1981 c.785 §1; 1983 c.521 §1; 1989 c.1029 §1; 2007 c.100 §18; 2011 c.421 §1; 2019 c.553 §1]

 

     ORS 166.165 Bias Crime in the First Degree

 

   (1) A person commits a bias crime in the first degree if the person:

 

      (a) Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes physical injury to another person because of the person’s perception of the other person’s race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or national origin;

 

      (b) With criminal negligence causes physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon because of the person’s perception of the other person’s race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or national origin; or

 

      (c) Intentionally, because of the person’s perception of another person’s race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or national origin, places another person in fear of imminent serious physical injury.

 

  (2) A bias crime in the first degree is a Class C felony. [1981 c.785 §2; 1983 c.521 §2; 1989 c.1029 §2; 1993 c.332 §1; 1995 c.79 §53; 1997 c.249 §50; 2007 c.100 §19; 2011 c.421 §2; 2019 c.553 §2]




These crimes were formerly known as intimidation in the first degree and intimidation in the second degree.  .




About the Author: 

David Lesh is a Portland attorney emphasizing the defense of serious criminal charges.  He has been a member of the Oregon State Bar since 1990.  Mr. Lesh is a former Multnomah County prosecutor (5 years) and lawyer to the Portland Police Bureau (3 years).  He was named an Oregon Super Lawyer in each year frm 2018 - 2022.  His law practice has an A+ BBB rating.
Office Location:  434 NW 19th Avenue; Portland, OR  97209
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