Oregon Code § 40.210·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Rule
412. Sex offense cases; relevance of victims past behavior or manner of dress.
(1) Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, in a prosecution for a crime described in ORS 163.266 (1),
163.355 to 163.427, 163.670 or 167.017, in a prosecution for an attempt to
commit one of those crimes or in a proceeding conducted under ORS 163.760 to
163.777, the following evidence is not admissible:
(a) Reputation or
opinion evidence of the past sexual behavior of an alleged victim or a
corroborating witness; or
(b) Reputation or
opinion evidence presented for the purpose of showing that the manner of dress
of an alleged victim incited the crime or, in a proceeding under ORS 163.760 to
163.777, incited the sexual abuse, or indicated consent to the sexual acts that
are alleged.
(2)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in a prosecution for a crime or an
attempt to commit a crime listed in subsection (1) of this section or in a
proceeding conducted under ORS 163.760 to 163.777, evidence of an alleged
victims past sexual behavior other than reputation or opinion evidence is also
not admissible, unless the evidence other than reputation or opinion evidence:
(a) Is admitted
in accordance with subsection (4) of this section; and
(b) Is evidence
that:
(A) Relates to
the motive or bias of the alleged victim;
(B) Is necessary
to rebut or explain scientific or medical evidence offered by the state; or
(C) Is otherwise
constitutionally required to be admitted.
(3)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in a prosecution for a crime or an
attempt to commit a crime listed in subsection (1) of this section or in a
proceeding conducted under ORS 163.760 to 163.777, evidence, other than
reputation or opinion evidence, of the manner of dress of the alleged victim or
a corroborating witness, presented by a person accused of committing the crime
or, in a proceeding conducted under ORS 163.760 to 163.777, by the respondent,
is also not admissible, unless the evidence:
(a) Is admitted
in accordance with subsection (4) of this section; and
(b) Is evidence
that:
(A) Relates to
the motive or bias of the alleged victim;
(B) Is necessary
to rebut or explain scientific, medical or testimonial evidence offered by the state;
(C) Is necessary
to establish the identity of the alleged victim; or
(D) Is otherwise
constitutionally required to be admitted.
(4)(a) If the
person accused of a crime or an attempt to commit a crime listed in subsection
(1) of this section, or the respondent in a proceeding conducted under ORS
163.760 to 163.777, intends to offer evidence under subsection (2) or (3) of
this section, the accused or the respondent shall make a written motion to
offer the evidence not later than 15 days before the date on which the trial in
which the evidence is to be offered is scheduled to begin, except that the
court may allow the motion to be made at a later date, including during trial,
if the court determines either that the evidence is newly discovered and could
not have been obtained earlier through the exercise of due diligence or that
the issue to which the evidence relates has newly arisen in the case. Any
motion made under this paragraph shall be served on all other parties and, in a
criminal proceeding, on the alleged victim through the office of the
prosecutor.
(b) The motion
described in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be accompanied by a written
offer of proof. If the court determines that the offer of proof contains
evidence described in subsection (2) or (3) of this section, the court shall
order a hearing in camera to determine if the evidence is admissible. At the
hearing the parties may call witnesses, including the alleged victim, and offer
relevant evidence. Notwithstanding ORS 40.030 (2), if the relevancy of the
evidence that the accused or the respondent seeks to offer in the trial depends
upon the fulfillment of a condition of fact, the court, at the hearing in
camera or at a subsequent hearing in camera scheduled for the same purpose,
shall accept evidence on the issue of whether the condition of fact is
fulfilled and shall determine the issue.
(c) If the court
determines on the basis of the hearing described in paragraph (b) of this
subsection that the evidence the accused or the respondent seeks to offer is
relevant and that the probative value of the evidence outweighs the danger of
unfair prejudice, the evidence shall be admissible in the trial to the extent
an order made by the court specifies evidence that may be offered and areas
with respect to which a witness may be examined or cross-examined.
(d) An order
admitting evidence under this subsection in a criminal prosecution may be
appealed by the state before trial.
(5) For purposes
of this section:
(a) Alleged
victim includes the petitioner in a proceeding conducted under ORS 163.760 to
163.777.
(b) In camera
means out of the presence of the public and the jury.
(c)
Plain English Explanation
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Key Points
01Part of Oregon statutory law
02Referenced as Oregon Code § 40.210
03Subject to legislative amendments
04Consult a licensed attorney for application to specific cases
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