Can I drop charges? Only the State of Oregon can drop charges in a criminal proceeding.
I am the victim, why can’t I drop charges? As the victim of a crime your participation and cooperation are a valued part of the prosecution process. However, the State of Oregon has a responsibility to hold offenders accountable for their actions when they break the law. This responsibility insures that the law is enforced consistently and that the community need for justice is met. Why does my case keep getting continued? Cases are continued (set over) because of the difficulty in coordinating court room space, attorney and witness availability, availability of judges, as well as time needed to complete investigations and to obtain the results of forensic testing Unfortunately, delays cannot always be anticipated and can be a frustrating part of the process. Will I get paid for my time off work? You will receive a witness fee and mileage for appearing as a witness. The law sets the amount of the witness fee and mileage and there is no provision to compensate for loss of wages.
