Appellate Division
Address: 1162 Court St. NE, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-378-4402
The division represents the State of Oregon in all cases in the United States federal courts, Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals. Lawyers in the division work on civil and administrative appeals such as tort claims, contract disputes and child welfare cases; defense of criminal convictions in direct criminal appeals; and defense of criminal convictions involving challenges to the validity of convictions or sentences after direct appeals are complete. The division also supports district attorneys throughout the state by providing advice and training on legal issues.
Child Advocacy and Protection Division
Address: 100 SW Market St., Portland 97201
Phone: 971-673-1880
Web: doj.state.or.us/oregon-department-of-justice/divisions/child-advocacy
Contact: Joanna Southey, Chief Counsel
The Child Advocacy and Protection Division (CAPD) provides timely, high-quality legal advice and effective court representation to the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Child Welfare Division. The division’s mission is to protect children from abuse and neglect while supporting families, helping ensure children grow up in safe, stable environments.
CAPD attorneys and support staff operate from offices in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Medford, Bend, and Pendleton, appearing regularly in juvenile and circuit courts across all 36 Oregon counties to achieve permanency for children. When reunification is not safe or legally viable, attorneys assist ODHS in securing permanent placements through guardianship, termination of parental rights, adoption, or other appropriate alternatives.
In addition to courtroom advocacy, some CAPD attorneys handle administrative proceedings involving foster home certification and licensing. Legal supervisors and managers also advise ODHS leadership on statewide policy, legislation, rulemaking, court practices, and interagency collaboration.
Child Support, Division of
Address: 1215 State St., Salem 97301;
Mail: 1162 Court St. NE, Salem 97301-4096
Phone: 503-947-4388
The division administers the child support program for the state, providing free child support services to Oregonians. Services include locating absent parents, establishing paternity, assisting with child and medical support orders, modifying and enforcing support orders and receiving and distributing child and medical support payments. Child support services are provided to all parents. The division maintains local branches around the state and works in partnership with district attorneys’ offices to deliver child support services through the Oregon Child Support Program. The program collects and distributes more than $394 million in child support annually, helping to ensure the well-being of Oregon families.
Civil Enforcement Division
Address: 1162 Court St. NE, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-947-4400
The Charitable Activities Section enforces laws regarding charitable trusts and solicitations and regulates charitable gaming activities, such as bingo and raffle operations.
The Civil Recovery Section is responsible for obtaining judgments and collecting debts owed to state agencies. It also provides legal services to the Division of Child Support.
The Consumer Protection Section protects Oregon consumers by enforcing the Unlawful Trade Practices Act, commonly known as Oregon’s consumer protection law. The section also educates consumers and businesses and enforces antitrust and false claims laws.
The division’s Medicaid Fraud Unit is part of a federally subsidized program for deterring fraud committed by Medicaid health care service providers. It also handles cases involving physical or financial abuse/neglect of residents of Medicaid-funded facilities.
The Child Advocacy Section helps protect abused, neglected and abandoned children. Child Advocacy attorneys provide a wide range of legal advice to Oregon Department of Human Services child welfare workers and often represent DHS in contested juvenile and circuit court hearings, and help achieve safe and permanent placement for children.
Crime Victim and Survivor Services Division
Address: 1162 Court St. NE, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-378-5348, Toll-free 1-800-503-7983
The Crime Victim and Survivor Services Division (CVSSD) helps to compensate victims for crime-related costs, protects victims’ rights and helps fund local victim service providers. Through trainings, advisory committees, and partnerships, CVSSD helps shape best practices statewide and brings a diverse collection of voices to the issue of victim and survivors’ rights. The division connects many different programs with a single goal: to serve victims and survivors effectively and compassionately. CVSSD also houses the Civil Rights Unit (CRU), which manages the Oregon Bias Response Hotline.
Criminal Justice Division
Address: 1162 Court St. NE, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-378-6347
The division provides investigative, analytical, prosecution and training support to Oregon’s district attorneys and law enforcement agencies. They also lead or participate in several important criminal information sharing and analysis programs. The division consists of three sections: District Attorney Assistance, Organized Crime and the Analytical Criminal Information Services.
General Counsel Division
Address: 1162 Court St. NE, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-947-4540
The division acts as the state’s in-house counsel and provides a broad range of legal services to state agencies, boards and commissions. This includes day-to-day legal advice and representing state agencies in administrative hearings. The division is composed of the following sections: Business Activities, Business Transactions, Government Services, Health and Human Services, Labor and Employment, Natural Resources and Tax and Finance.
Trial Division
Address: 158 12th St. NE, Salem 97301;
Mail: 1162 Court St. NE, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-947-4700
The division defends the state, its agencies, employees and officers in civil lawsuits brought in state and federal courts. The division is divided into three sections.
The Civil Litigation Section (CLS) handles a wide variety of cases in state and federal courts. These cases involve disputes over agency orders, tort claims, civil rights, employment and other civil cases involving the state.
The Criminal and Collateral Remedies Section handles cases filed by a convicted person seeking a new trial or a re-sentencing from a trial court. This Section seeks to uphold the convictions won by a district attorney when a case reaches the state post-conviction and federal habeas corpus stage.
The Special Litigation Unit defends state statutes and policies against constitutional challenges in state and federal courts. This unit also defends the state in complex litigation involving elections law, class action lawsuits and environmental cases.