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DOC urges statutory clarity after Torres Lopez ruling that altered credit-for-time‑served calculations
Summary
At an informational hearing, the Oregon Department of Corrections detailed how the Torres Lopez Supreme Court decision forced a review of ~11,000 judgments, produced 388 eligible credit determinations, and left dozens of people either returned to custody or with remaining time. DOC asked the Legislature to codify processes for consistent credit calculations and limited authority to retake custody in cases of erroneous releases.
The Oregon Department of Corrections told the House Committee on Judiciary that a July 2025 Oregon Supreme Court decision (Torres Lopez) narrowed the agency’s interpretation of how courts can order credit for time served, and that retroactive application of that ruling required DOC to review roughly 11,000 judgments to determine eligibility.
"We learned, via the Torres Lopez decision, that DOC took a narrower interpretation than was intended," Director Mike Reese said, framing the hearing as a request for legislative help to provide certainty in sentence calculations and return processes. Assistant Director Larry Bennett walked members through DOC’s…
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