Arrest Reports and Laws

Petition to circuit court for relief; burden of proof.


(1) A person who has been subjected to sexual abuse and who reasonably fears for the person’s physical safety may petition the circuit court for a restraining order if:
(a) The person and the respondent are not family or household members;
(b) The respondent is at least 18 years of age; and
(c) The respondent is not prohibited from contacting the person pursuant to a foreign restraining order as defined in ORS 24.190, an order issued under ORS 30.866, 124.015, 124.020, 163.738 or 419B.845 or an order entered in a criminal action.
(2)(a) A petition seeking relief under ORS 163.760 to 163.777 must be filed in the circuit court for the county in which the petitioner or the respondent resides. The petition may be filed, without the appointment of a guardian ad litem, by a person who is at least 12 years of age or by a parent or lawful guardian of a person who is under 18 years of age.
(b) The petition must allege that:
(A) The petitioner reasonably fears for the petitioner’s physical safety with respect to the respondent; and
(B) The respondent subjected the petitioner to sexual abuse within the 180 days preceding the filing of the petition.
(c) The petition must include allegations made under oath or affirmation or a declaration under penalty of perjury.
(d) The petitioner has the burden of proving a claim under ORS 163.760 to 163.777 by a preponderance of the evidence.
(3) The following periods of time may not be counted for the purpose of computing the 180-day period described in this section and ORS 163.765:
(a) Any time during which the respondent is incarcerated.
(b) Any time during which the respondent has a principal residence more than 100 miles from the principal residence of the petitioner.
(c) Any time during which the respondent is subject to an order described in subsection (1)(c) of this section. [2013 c.687 §2; 2015 c.121 §22]