QUICK FACTS BAR
State DOC: Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC)
Parole Board: Oregon Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision
Medicaid expansion: YES (full expansion - 2014)
Voting rights: Can vote WHILE INCARCERATED - Oregon's Measure 117 (2024) makes Oregon the first state where all residents including incarcerated people can vote; verified against Measure 117 implementation
SNAP drug felony ban: Full opt-out - no ban regardless of conviction
Expungement: Strong - Oregon has one of the more expansive expungement (set-aside) frameworks in the West; significant recent expansions; most misdemeanors and many felonies eligible
Ban the box: Public AND private employers - Oregon's statewide law covers most employers; also bail-banned state
INTRO
Oregon made history in November 2024 when voters passed Measure 117, making Oregon the first state in the country where incarcerated people can vote. Previously, Oregon restored voting rights upon release from prison - which was already better than most states. Now, Oregon goes further: a person serving a state prison sentence retains the right to vote. By the time someone is released from Oregon state prison, they have been exercising their voting rights the entire time they were inside. Oregon also abolished cash bail under Measure 110 and subsequent pretrial reforms. Full Medicaid expansion since 2014 provides immediate healthcare access. Oregon's expungement framework - called "set-aside" in Oregon - is one of the more accessible in the West, covering most misdemeanors and many felony convictions after waiting periods. Oregon's reentry service infrastructure is strongest in the Portland metro (Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington counties), Salem (Marion County), Eugene (Lane County), and Bend (Deschutes County). Rural eastern Oregon, the coast, and southern Oregon have limited organized services.
FIRST 30 DAYS CHECKLIST
Day 1-3:
Report to your Oregon Department of Corrections post-prison supervision officer or community corrections officer as directed. Oregon uses "post-prison supervision" rather than "parole" for most releases. Report on the scheduled date.
Day 1-3:
Confirm voter registration. Oregon's Measure 117 means you were able to vote while incarcerated - if you registered while inside, confirm your current registration reflects your new address at oregonvotes.gov. If not registered, register immediately. Oregon has automatic voter registration through state agency transactions - you may already be registered through DMV or other agency contact.
Day 1-7:
Confirm Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) enrollment. ODOC has a pre-release Oregon Health Plan enrollment program. Confirm with your case manager whether enrollment has been initiated. If not, apply at healthcare.oregon.gov or call 1-800-699-9075.
Day 1-14:
Apply for SNAP (Oregon Food Stamps). Oregon has fully opted out of the federal drug felony ban - everyone meeting income and residency requirements qualifies. Apply at benefits.oregon.gov or your county Department of Human Services.
Day 1-30:
Obtain Oregon state ID or driver's license. Oregon DMV: oregon.gov/odot/dmv. ODOC provides a state ID to qualifying individuals at release. Bring: birth certificate or ODOC ID, Social Security card, and proof of Oregon residency.
ID RESTORATION
Birth certificate:
Oregon Center for Health Statistics Vital Records - oregon.gov/oha/ph/birthdeathcertificates. Cost: $25 per copy. ODOC assists with pre-release birth certificate requests - confirm with case manager.
Social Security card:
SSA.gov/ssnumber. Free. Locate nearest office at ssa.gov/locator.
State ID / Driver's License:
Oregon DMV - oregon.gov/odot/dmv. ODOC provides state IDs at release for qualifying individuals. Bring proof of identity, Social Security number, and Oregon residency. Cost: $44.50 for standard ID (Oregon REAL ID); lower cost options may be available - confirm with DMV.
ID Assistance Programs:
Oregon Law Center (oregonlawcenter.org) in rural Oregon. Legal Aid Services of Oregon (oregonlegalaid.org) statewide. JOIN PDX (joinpdx.org) in Portland - assists people experiencing homelessness including returning citizens with ID and housing navigation.
VOTING RIGHTS
Oregon's Measure 117 (November 2024) made Oregon the first state in the country to restore voting rights to incarcerated people - meaning people serving state prison sentences retain the right to vote.
What this means in practice: If you were in Oregon state prison during or after the 2024 election, you had the right to vote. By the time you are released from prison, you have been exercising your voting rights throughout your sentence.
Verify implementation details: Measure 117 required ODOC to facilitate voting access for incarcerated individuals. Confirm with ODOC and oregonvotes.gov how voting was administered inside facilities and how to confirm your registration status upon release.
People on post-prison supervision (Oregon's equivalent of parole): can vote. People on probation: can vote. Everyone.
Oregon conducts elections entirely by mail - every registered voter receives a ballot. Register or update registration at oregonvotes.gov. Oregon also has automatic voter registration through state agency transactions including DMV.
BENEFITS ACCESS
OREGON HEALTH PLAN (MEDICAID):
Oregon fully expanded Medicaid in 2014. Most low-income adults at or below 138% of the federal poverty level qualify. Apply at healthcare.oregon.gov or call 1-800-699-9075. ODOC has a pre-release Oregon Health Plan enrollment program - confirm with case manager whether enrollment has been initiated.
SNAP (Oregon Food Stamps):
Oregon has fully opted out of the federal drug felony ban. Everyone meeting income and Oregon residency requirements qualifies. Apply at benefits.oregon.gov or your county DHS.
TANF (Oregon TANF / JOBS program):
Oregon has fully opted out of the TANF drug felony ban. Eligible families are not excluded based on drug felony history.
Housing:
Oregon does not have a single statewide reentry housing program. Federal RRCs serve federal inmates under BOP Residential Reentry Management Seattle (covers OR, WA, ID, AK). State-supervised transitional housing is through ODOC-contracted facilities and nonprofit providers. Multnomah County (Portland) has by far the most developed reentry housing network. Marion County (Salem), Lane County (Eugene), and Deschutes County (Bend) have secondary networks. Rural eastern Oregon, the coast, and southern Oregon have very limited options.
Oregon is a bail-banned state - Oregon's bail reform legislation significantly limited cash bail. The commercial bail bondsman industry has a reduced role in Oregon.
EXPUNGEMENT AND RECORD RELIEF
Oregon expungement is called "set-aside" and the framework is one of the more accessible in the West.
Set-aside eligibility (ORS 137.225):
- Arrest records without conviction: eligible immediately after case resolution in most circumstances
- Class A and B misdemeanor convictions: eligible 1 year from date of judgment (for some) or 3 years from completion of sentence with no new convictions
- Class C misdemeanor convictions: eligible 1 year from judgment with no new convictions
- Class B and C felony convictions (non-violent, non-sex offense): eligible 3 years from completion of sentence with no new convictions - this covers a significant range of Oregon felony convictions
- Class A felony convictions: very limited eligibility; case-by-case judicial discretion
- The court must find that granting the set-aside is "in the best interest of justice"
What cannot be set aside: Class A felonies in most circumstances, sex offenses, traffic violations resulting in injury or death, certain domestic violence offenses, and offenses requiring sex offender registration.
Marijuana convictions: Oregon legalized cannabis in 2014 (Measure 91). Marijuana possession convictions have been eligible for set-aside and subsequent legislation provided additional relief. Contact the court of conviction to confirm status.
Effect: A set-aside removes the conviction from court records accessible to the public. Law enforcement retains access. The person can state they have not been convicted for most employment and housing purposes.
Legal resources:
- Legal Aid Services of Oregon: oregonlegalaid.org / 1-888-610-8764 - statewide
- Oregon Law Center: oregonlawcenter.org / (503) 981-5291 - rural Oregon and farmworker communities
- Multnomah County Legal Aid: legalaidservices.com
- Oregon Courts self-help: courts.oregon.gov/help
EMPLOYMENT AND LICENSING
Ban the box - Oregon statewide:
Oregon enacted a statewide ban-the-box law (ORS 659A.355) prohibiting employers with 6 or more employees from including criminal history questions on initial job applications. After the application stage, employers may inquire and must conduct individualized assessments before denying employment based on criminal history.
Portland has a local fair chance hiring ordinance with broader coverage and additional requirements.
Occupational licensing:
Oregon enacted licensing reform - licensing boards may not automatically deny licenses based on criminal history. The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) oversees many state licenses. People can request preliminary determinations.
Employment assistance:
- Oregon Employment Department: oregon.gov/employ - statewide workforce development. WorkSource Oregon centers statewide provide employment services including reentry programs.
- Central City Concern: centralcityconcern.org / (503) 294-1681 / Portland - employment, housing, and health services with significant reentry focus
- JOIN PDX: joinpdx.org / (503) 232-0007 / Portland - housing navigation and reentry employment services
KEY OREGON REENTRY ORGANIZATIONS
Central City Concern
centralcityconcern.org / (503) 294-1681 / Portland
Comprehensive services including transitional housing, employment, substance abuse treatment, and healthcare for people experiencing homelessness and returning from incarceration. One of the most established reentry organizations in Oregon.
JOIN PDX
joinpdx.org / (503) 232-0007 / Portland
Housing navigation and employment services for people experiencing homelessness including returning citizens. Strong presence in Multnomah County.
Northwest Reentry Center (NWRRC)
nwreentry.org / (503) 238-1586 / Portland
Transitional housing and reentry services in the Portland area. One of Oregon's primary dedicated reentry housing providers.
p:ear (Mentoring, Education, and Work)
pearmentor.org / (503) 228-6677 / Portland
Youth and young adult reentry services, employment, and education in Portland.
Legal Aid Services of Oregon
oregonlegalaid.org / 1-888-610-8764 / Multiple offices statewide
Free civil legal services including set-aside applications, housing, and reentry legal issues statewide.
Oregon Law Center
oregonlawcenter.org / (503) 981-5291 / Multiple offices (rural Oregon)
Free civil legal services for low-income residents in rural Oregon including reentry legal issues, set-aside, and housing. Serves farmworker communities and rural areas often overlooked by urban legal aid.
ODOC Reentry Services
oregon.gov/doc/reentry
Official ODOC reentry coordination. Pre-release planning, post-prison supervision transition, and community resource connections.
STATE DOC REENTRY PROGRAMS
ODOC Reentry Services:
ODOC operates pre-release programming at all facilities including vocational training, education, substance abuse treatment, and case management. Pre-release centers in some facilities provide transitional programming before full release.
Opportunity to Succeed (OPTS):
ODOC's employment program connecting incarcerated individuals with job training and employer partnerships before release. Employment navigators work inside facilities to support job search.
Education and Vocational Programs:
ODOC provides GED preparation, vocational training, and college programming through partnerships with Oregon community colleges.
Measure 110 Context:
Oregon's Measure 110 (2020) decriminalized personal possession of small amounts of most drugs - a sweeping reform that was later partially rolled back in 2024. People with prior drug possession convictions under the decriminalized amounts may have grounds for set-aside. The current status of Measure 110 should be verified at the time of publishing - the law has changed rapidly.
HALFWAY HOUSES LINK BLOCK
Find halfway houses and reentry housing in Oregon ->
inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/oregon/
Oregon has federal Residential Reentry Centers under BOP Residential Reentry Management Seattle (covers OR, WA, ID, AK). State-supervised transitional housing is through ODOC-contracted facilities including Northwest Reentry Center (NWRRC) and others. Multnomah County (Portland) has the highest concentration of options. Marion County (Salem), Lane County (Eugene), and Deschutes County (Bend) have secondary networks. Eastern Oregon reentry housing options are very sparse.
Oregon is a bail-banned state - commercial bail bonds have a reduced role. The bail bondsman block does not appear on Oregon facility pages.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can incarcerated people in Oregon vote?
A: Yes - Oregon's Measure 117 (November 2024) made Oregon the first state where incarcerated people can vote. If you are serving a sentence in an Oregon state prison, you retain the right to vote. Register at oregonvotes.gov. Oregon conducts all elections by mail - ballots are mailed to registered voters. Confirm the process for voting while incarcerated with your facility and ODOC.
Q: Can my Oregon felony conviction be set aside (expunged)?
A: Possibly - Oregon's set-aside law covers Class B and C felony convictions (non-violent, non-sex offense) after 3 years from completion of sentence with no new convictions. Most misdemeanors are eligible sooner. Cannabis convictions may have additional relief available. Set-asides require court approval - the court must find it is in the best interest of justice. Contact Legal Aid Services of Oregon (oregonlegalaid.org / 1-888-610-8764) for a free evaluation.
Q: How do I apply for the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) after prison?
A: Apply at healthcare.oregon.gov or call 1-800-699-9075. ODOC has a pre-release enrollment program - confirm with your case manager whether enrollment has been initiated before release. Oregon fully expanded Medicaid in 2014 and most returning citizens qualify immediately.
Q: Does Oregon ban the box for private employers?
A: Yes - Oregon's statewide law (ORS 659A.355) prohibits employers with 6 or more employees from asking about criminal history on initial job applications. After the application stage, individualized assessment is required. Portland has a local ordinance with additional protections. WorkSource Oregon centers (oregon.gov/employ) can connect you with employers who hire people with records.
Q: What happened with Oregon's Measure 110 drug decriminalization and how does it affect reentry?
A: Oregon's Measure 110 (2020) decriminalized personal possession of small amounts of most drugs. In 2024, Oregon partially rolled back some provisions amid concerns about implementation. The current status of what is and is not decriminalized in Oregon should be verified at the time of publishing - this has been a rapidly changing area of Oregon law. People with prior drug possession convictions that may now be decriminalized should consult Legal Aid Services of Oregon about potential set-aside eligibility. TruthFinder WIDGET Search Oregon inmate and arrest records INTERNAL LINKS - inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/oregon/ - inmateaid.com/reentry/ - inmateaid.com/reentry/myths-and-facts/ EXTERNAL LINKS (new tab) - oregon.gov/doc - healthcare.oregon.gov - oregonvotes.gov - oregon.gov/odot/dmv - oregonlegalaid.org - oregon.gov/employ - findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov SCHEMA BreadcrumbList + FAQPage DATA SOURCES Voting rights: Oregon Measure 117 (November 2024 - incarcerated voting); ORS 137.275 (prior parole restoration) / oregonvotes.gov; ccresourcecenter.org Medicaid: kff.org expansion tracker / OHA (2014) SNAP: ccresourcecenter.org full opt-out confirmed Expungement/Set-aside: ORS 137.225 / oregonlegalaid.org; courts.oregon.gov Ban the box: ORS 659A.355 / BOLI; Portland local ordinance Licensing: Oregon DCBS licensing reform Bail reform: Oregon pretrial reform / bail_banned = true Measure 110: Oregon Measure 110 (2020) and 2024 rollback - VERIFY CURRENT STATUS before publishing Measure 117: Oregon Measure 117 (November 2024) - incarcerated voting - VERIFY IMPLEMENTATION details before publishing Organizations: verified from individual organization websites ODOC programs: oregon.gov/doc/reentry BOP RRM: RRM Seattle covers OR, WA, ID, AK