161.525 “Felony” described. Except as provided in ORS 161.585, 161.705 and 161.710, a crime is a felony if it is so designated in any statute of this state or if a person convicted under a statute of this state may be sentenced to a maximum term of imprisonment of more than one year. [1971 c.743 §67; 2017 c.439 §3]
Stored review status: 2025_edition_later_amendments_unresolved. A text match is a research starting point; applicability is not established.
Official chapter context and edition notices
TITLE 16
CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
Chapter 161. General Provisions
162. Offenses Against the State and Public Justice
163. Offenses Against Persons
163A. Sex Offender Reporting and Classification
164. Offenses Against Property
165. Offenses Involving Fraud or Deception
166. Offenses Against Public Order; Firearms and Other Weapons; Racketeering
167. Offenses Against General Welfare and Animals
169. Local and Regional Correctional Facilities; Prisoners; Juvenile Facilities
_______________
Chapter 161 — General Provisions
Uncodified sections printed in this chapter were amended or repealed by the Legislative Assembly during its 2026 regular session. See the table of uncodified sections amended or repealed during the 2026 regular session: 2026 A&R Tables
2025 EDITION
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
PRINCIPLES
CRIMINAL LIABILITY
PARTIES TO CRIME
JUSTIFICATION
RESPONSIBILITY
(Temporary provisions relating to maximum periods of commitment and community restoration are compiled as notes following ORS 161.371)
INCHOATE CRIMES
CLASSES OF OFFENSES
DISPOSITION OF OFFENDERS
AUTHORITY OF SENTENCING COURT
PRINCIPLES
File SHA-256: 8773685681f1bf26a63d62a05c338a6e76c17f6dd1b69da0a77625951fdf2fe5. The original may include catalog metadata, neighboring provisions, or embedded records outside this collection's scope. This page displays the selected Oregon section record with its printed versions and adjoining notes. Historical editions and unverified snapshots are not a statement of current law.
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Stable record: oregon_criminal_law:legal_authorities:161.525 Source file: ors161.html Pages: Not recorded – Not recorded Passage SHA-256: ef15825440ea3ed7c0d8d9e3422ce20138f9102da05ef5653ed083e8dd124978 Retained source evidence SHA-256: 8773685681f1bf26a63d62a05c338a6e76c17f6dd1b69da0a77625951fdf2fe5
Source location: ORS 161.525 (all printed versions and notes)
Stored source content
161.525 “Felony” described. Except as provided in ORS 161.585, 161.705 and 161.710, a crime is a felony if it is so designated in any statute of this state or if a person convicted under a statute of this state may be sentenced to a maximum term of imprisonment of more than one year. [1971 c.743 §67; 2017 c.439 §3]
Cross-references
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Oregon criminal law — ORS Title 16 (2025 snapshot) · legal_authorities
161.585 Classification of certain crimes determined by punishment. (1) When a crime punishable as a felony is also punishable by imprisonment for a maximum term of one year or by a fine, the crime shall be classed as a misdemeanor if the court imposes a punishment other than imprisonment under ORS 137.124 (1).
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of ORS 161.525, upon conviction of a crime punishable as described in subsection (1) of this section, the crime is a felony for all purposes until one of the following events occurs, after which occurrence the crime is a misdemeanor for all purposes:
(a) Without imposing a sentence of probation, the court imposes a sentence of imprisonment other than to the legal and physical custody of the Department of Corrections.
(b) Without imposing a sentence of probation, the court imposes a fine.
(c) Upon revocation of probation, the court imposes a sentence of imprisonment other than to the legal and physical custody of the Department of Corrections.
(d) Upon revocation of probation, the court imposes a fine.
(e) The court declares the offense to be a misdemeanor, either at the time of imposing a sentence of probation, upon suspension of imposition of a part of a sentence, or on application of defendant or the parole and probation officer of the defendant thereafter.
(f) The court imposes a sentence of probation on the defendant without imposition of any other sentence upon conviction and defendant is thereafter discharged without any other sentence.
(g) Without imposing a sentence of probation and without imposing any other sentence, the court declares the offense to be a misdemeanor and discharges the defendant.
(3) The provisions of this section shall apply only to persons convicted of a felony committed prior to November 1,
161.535 Classification of felonies. (1) Felonies are classified for the purpose of sentence into the following categories:
(a) Class A felonies;
(b) Class B felonies;
(c) Class C felonies; and
(d) Unclassified felonies.
(2) The particular classification of each felony defined in the Oregon Criminal Code, except murder in any degree under ORS 163.107 or 163.115 and treason under ORS 166.005, is expressly designated in the section defining the crime. An offense defined outside this code which, because of the express sentence provided is within the definition of ORS 161.525, shall be considered an unclassified felony. [1971 c.743 §68; 2019 c.635 §16]
161.705 Reduction of certain felonies to misdemeanors. (1) Notwithstanding ORS 161.525, the court may enter judgment of conviction for a Class A misdemeanor and make disposition accordingly when:
(a)(A) A person is convicted of any Class C felony; or
(B) A person convicted of a Class C felony, of possession or delivery of marijuana or a marijuana item as defined in ORS 475C.009 constituting a Class B felony, of possession of a controlled substance constituting a Class B felony or of a Class A felony pursuant to ORS 166.720, has successfully completed a sentence of probation; and
(b) The court, considering the nature and circumstances of the crime and the history and character of the defendant, believes that a felony conviction would be unduly harsh.
(2) The entry of judgment of conviction for a Class A misdemeanor under this section may be made:
(a) At the time of conviction, for offenses described in subsection (1)(a)(A) of this section; or
(b) At any time after the sentence of probation has been completed, for offenses described in subsection (1)(a)(B) of this section. [1971 c.743 §83; 1977 c.745 §31; 1979 c.124 §1; 1981 c.769 §8; 2005 c.708 §48; 2009 c.610 §2; 2013 c.591 §5; 2015 c.290 §2; 2015 c.614 §125; 2017 c.21 §100; 2018 c.120 §11]
161.710 Reduction of certain felony driving offenses after completion of sentence. Notwithstanding ORS 161.525, the court has authority, at any time after a sentence of probation has been completed, to enter judgment of conviction for a Class A misdemeanor for a person convicted of criminal driving while suspended or revoked under ORS 811.182 committed before September 1, 1999, and constituting a felony if:
(1) The suspension or revocation resulted from habitual offender status under ORS 809.640;
(2) The person successfully completed the sentence of probation; and
(3) The court finds that, considering the nature and circumstances of the crime and the history and character of the person, it would be unduly harsh for the person to continue to have a felony conviction. [2017 c.439 §2]