ORS 161.200
Choice of evils


(1)

Unless inconsistent with other provisions of chapter 743, Oregon Laws 1971, defining justifiable use of physical force, or with some other provision of law, conduct which would otherwise constitute an offense is justifiable and not criminal when:

(a)

That conduct is necessary as an emergency measure to avoid an imminent public or private injury; and

(b)

The threatened injury is of such gravity that, according to ordinary standards of intelligence and morality, the desirability and urgency of avoiding the injury clearly outweigh the desirability of avoiding the injury sought to be prevented by the statute defining the offense in issue.

(2)

The necessity and justifiability of conduct under subsection (1) of this section shall not rest upon considerations pertaining only to the morality and advisability of the statute, either in its general application or with respect to its application to a particular class of cases arising thereunder. [1971 c.743 §20]
Note: See note under 161.015 (General definitions).

Source: Section 161.200 — Choice of evils, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors161.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Trial court properly granted pretrial motion preventing defendant, charged with escape in third degree from custody of probation officer, from presenting evidence for purpose of choice-of-evils defense that defendant escaped in order to avoid being returned to county jail where he had been beaten by other prisoners and forced to commit oral sodomy. State v. Whisman, 33 Or App 147, 575 P2d 1005 (1978)

Rationale of case law that duress under ORS 161.270 requires danger to be present, imminent and impending is equally applicable to choice of evils. State v. Whisman, 33 Or App 147, 575 P2d 1005 (1978)

Under evidence that defendant put companion’s gun in her purse because she was afraid that in his disturbed state of mind he might use it when he returned to restaurant, defendant was entitled to jury instruction on “choice-of-evils” defense. State v. Lawson, 37 Or App 739, 588 P2d 110 (1978)

Choice-of-evils defense is available to defendant charged with being ex-convict in possession of firearm. State v. Burney, 49 Or App 529, 619 P2d 1336 (1980)

Where defendant, charged with eluding police officer, was allegedly seeking to avoid assault by police officer and further delay in returning to care for his mother, trial court’s refusal to instruct on necessity was error. State v. Matthews, 30 Or App 1133, 569 P2d 662 (1977)

Choice-of-evils defense is not available in prosecutions for driving while revoked in violation of [former] ORS 484.740. State v. Neubauer, 68 Or App 885, 683 P2d 136 (1984)

Defendant may justify otherwise criminal act by showing it was “necessary as an emergency measure to avoid an imminent public or private injury.” State v. Olson, 79 Or App 302, 719 P2d 55 (1986)

Choice-of-evils defense is not limited to actions taken to protect life, but also may be invoked by defendant who has acted unlawfully in order to protect property. State v. Webber, 85 Or App 347, 736 P2d 220 (1987), Sup Ct review denied

Where evidence included graphic photographic evidence of research practices and abuses and graphic videotaped documentaries, trial court did not abuse its discretion in ruling on admissibility of evidence before trial. State v. Troen, 100 Or App 442, 786 P2d 751 (1990), Sup Ct review denied

Activity that is lawful and nontortious is not imminent public or private injury as required for choice-of-evils defense. State v. Clowes, 310 Or 686, 801 P2d 789 (1990)

Choice-of-evils defense is “inconsistent with . . . other provision of law” where legislature has deliberately made contrary value choice. State v. Clowes, 310 Or 686, 801 P2d 789 (1990); State v. Ownbey, 165 Or App 132, 996 P2d 510 (2000), on reconsideration 168 Or App 525, 7 P3d 653 (2000), Sup Ct review denied

Choice-of-evils defense could not exonerate defendants charged with contempt for violating injunction arising from demonstration to prevent abortions because defense is available only if defendants’ necessary conduct is not inconsistent with other provisions of law. Downtown Women’s Center v. Advocates for Life, Inc., 111 Or App 317, 826 P2d 637 (1992)

Where threat of injury, if there was one, existed on day defendant was scheduled to appear in court and was conditioned on what he might do on that date, threat was “imminent.” State v. Boldt, 116 Or App 480, 841 P2d 1196 (1992)

To establish choice-of-evils defense requires evidence sufficient to show: 1) defendant’s conduct was necessary to avoid threatened injury; 2) threatened injury was imminent; and 3) it was reasonable for defendant to believe need to avoid threatened injury was greater than need to avoid potential injury from illegal conduct. State v. Boldt, 116 Or App 480, 841 P2d 1196 (1992); State v. Miles, 197 Or App 86, 104 P3d 604 (2005), Sup Ct review denied

Where defendant’s post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was triggered by diesel fumes and truck noises, court correctly excluded evidence about defendant’s PTSD as irrelevant because defendant’s threatened injury under choice-of-evils defense from fumes and noises must be judged from objective perspective of reasonable person, not from defendant’s subjective perspective. State v. Dart, 312 Or App 288, 491 P3d 813 (2021), Sup Ct review denied

161.005
Short title
161.015
General definitions
161.025
Purposes
161.035
Application of Criminal Code
161.045
Limits on application
161.055
Burden of proof as to defenses
161.067
Determining punishable offenses for violation of multiple statutory provisions, multiple victims or repeated violations
161.085
Definitions with respect to culpability
161.095
Requirements for criminal liability
161.105
Culpability requirement inapplicable to certain violations and offenses
161.115
Construction of statutes with respect to culpability
161.125
Drug or controlled substance use or dependence or intoxication as defense
161.150
Criminal liability described
161.155
Criminal liability for conduct of another
161.160
Exclusion of defenses to criminal liability for conduct of another
161.165
Exemptions to criminal liability for conduct of another
161.170
Criminal liability of corporations
161.175
Criminal liability of an individual for corporate conduct
161.190
Justification as a defense
161.195
“Justification” described
161.200
Choice of evils
161.205
Use of physical force generally
161.209
Use of physical force in defense of a person
161.215
Limitations on use of physical force in defense of a person
161.219
Limitations on use of deadly physical force in defense of a person
161.225
Use of physical force in defense of premises
161.229
Use of physical force in defense of property
161.233
Use of physical force by peace officer
161.237
Use of physical force involving pressure on throat or neck by peace officer or corrections officer
161.242
Use of deadly physical force by peace officer
161.245
“Reasonable belief” described
161.249
Use of physical force by private person assisting an arrest
161.255
Use of physical force by private person making citizen’s arrest
161.260
Use of physical force in resisting arrest prohibited
161.265
Use of physical force by guard or peace officer employed in correctional facility
161.267
Use of physical force by corrections officer or official employed by Department of Corrections
161.270
Duress
161.275
Entrapment
161.290
Incapacity due to immaturity
161.295
Effect of qualifying mental disorder
161.300
Evidence of qualifying mental disorder admissible as to intent
161.305
Qualifying mental disorder as affirmative defense
161.309
Notice of mental defense
161.313
Jury instructions
161.315
Right of state to obtain mental examination of defendant
161.319
Form of verdict on guilty except for insanity
161.325
Finding of guilty except for insanity
161.326
Notice to victim
161.327
Commitment or conditional release of person found guilty except for insanity of felony
161.328
Commitment of person found guilty except for insanity of misdemeanor
161.329
Order of discharge
161.332
“Conditional release” defined
161.336
Conditional release by board
161.341
Application for discharge or conditional release
161.346
Hearings on discharge, conditional release, commitment or modification
161.348
Judicial review
161.349
Person committed under ORS 161.315 to 161.351 sentenced to term of incarceration
161.351
Discharge by board
161.355
Definitions
161.360
Qualifying mental disorder affecting fitness to proceed
161.362
Requirements for recommendations, determinations and orders
161.365
Procedure for determining issue of fitness to proceed
161.367
Gaining or regaining fitness
161.370
Determination of fitness to proceed
161.371
Procedures upon commitment of defendant
161.372
Involuntary administration of medication for fitness to proceed
161.373
Records for fitness to proceed examination
161.375
Escape of person placed at hospital or facility
161.385
Psychiatric Security Review Board
161.387
Board to implement policies
161.390
Rules for assignment of persons to state mental hospitals or secure intensive community inpatient facilities
161.392
Certification of psychiatrists and licensed psychologists
161.395
Subpoena power
161.397
Psychiatric Security Review Board Account
161.398
Restorative justice program
161.400
Leave of absence
161.405
“Attempt” described
161.425
Impossibility not a defense
161.430
Renunciation as a defense to attempt
161.435
Solicitation
161.440
Renunciation as defense to solicitation
161.450
“Criminal conspiracy” described
161.455
Conspiratorial relationship
161.460
Renunciation as defense to conspiracy
161.465
Duration of conspiracy
161.475
Defenses to solicitation and conspiracy
161.485
Multiple convictions barred in inchoate crimes
161.505
“Offense” described
161.515
“Crime” described
161.525
“Felony” described
161.535
Classification of felonies
161.545
“Misdemeanor” described
161.555
Classification of misdemeanors
161.566
Misdemeanor treated as violation
161.568
Misdemeanor treated as violation
161.570
Felony treated as misdemeanor
161.585
Classification of certain crimes determined by punishment
161.605
Maximum terms of imprisonment for felonies
161.610
Enhanced penalty for use of firearm during commission of felony
161.615
Maximum terms of imprisonment for misdemeanors
161.620
Sentences imposed upon waiver
161.625
Fines for felonies
161.635
Fines for misdemeanors
161.645
Standards for imposing fines
161.655
Fines for corporations
161.665
Costs
161.675
Time and method of payment of fines, restitution and costs
161.685
Effect of nonpayment of fines, restitution or costs
161.705
Reduction of certain felonies to misdemeanors
161.710
Reduction of certain felony driving offenses after completion of sentence
161.715
Standards for discharge of defendant
161.725
Standards for sentencing of dangerous offenders
161.735
Procedure for determining whether defendant dangerous
161.737
Sentence imposed on dangerous offender as departure from sentencing guidelines
161.740
Sentencing of juvenile offenders
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