Opinion ID: 4211918
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Murder Review Statutory Framework

Text: As context for petitioner’s arguments, we begin with a brief overview of the murder-review process. At the time petitioner committed his crime, ORS 163.105(1) (1985) provided that a person convicted of aggravated murder, if not sentenced to death, shall be sentenced to “life imprisonment” and ordered “confined for a minimum of 30 years without the possibility of parole, release on work release or any form of temporary leave or employment at a forest or work camp.” After 20 years, however, the prisoner becomes eligible for a “murder-review” hearing, at which the board considers whether to change the terms of the prisoner’s confinement to “life imprisonment with the possibility of parole or work release.” ORS 163.105(2), (3) (1985).5 3 Both parties refer to hearings pursuant to ORS 163.105 as “murder review” hearings, and we adopt that terminology for this opinion. 4 Petitioner’s constitutional argument relies on the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Neither the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution nor Article I, section 11, of the Oregon Constitution guarantees a right to counsel outside of criminal prosecutions, and we have held that the Oregon Constitution contains no due process clause. See State ex rel Juv. Dept. v. Geist, 310 Or 176, 188 n 13, 796 P2d 1193 (1990). 5 ORS 163.105 (1985) provided, in relevant part: “(1)    If sentenced to life imprisonment, the court shall order that the defendant shall be confined for a minimum of 30 years without possibility of parole, release on work release or any form of temporary leave or employment at a forest or work camp. “(2) At any time after 20 years from the date of imposition of a minimum period of confinement pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the State Board of Parole, upon the petition of a prisoner so confined, shall hold a hearing to determine if the prisoner is likely to be rehabilitated within a reasonable period of time. The sole issue shall be whether or not the prisoner is likely to be rehabilitated within a reasonable period of time. “     “(3) If, upon hearing all of the evidence, the board, upon a unanimous vote of all five members, finds that the prisoner is capable of rehabilitation and that the terms of the prisoner’s confinement should be changed to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole, or work release, it shall enter an order to that effect and the order shall convert the terms of the prisoner’s confinement to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole or work release. Otherwise the board shall deny the relief sought in the petition.” 20 Haynes v. Board of Parole If, after such hearing, the board denies a prisoner’s petition to change the terms of confinement, the prisoner has a right to seek judicial review of the board’s order. ORS 144.335(1). One of the conditions for seeking judicial review is that the petition for review of the board’s order “shall” be filed “within 60 days after the date the board mails the order.” ORS 144.335(4). Finally, and at the core of petitioner’s argument, “the Public Defense Services Commission shall provide for the representation of financially eligible persons petitioning for review” of the board’s order. ORS 144.337(1).