Union County

Union County follows Oregon law on arrests, release, and courts. These rules are the same in every county in the state; the full set covers prosecutors, defense, and jails too.

Who decides release first

Before arraignment, the jail releases people under a standing order written by the presiding judge of each judicial district, or a release assistance officer appointed by that judge decides. At arraignment, a judge makes the release decision. The standing order sets recognizance and conditional release, not dollar amounts.

ORS 135.233, 135.235, 135.240, 135.245Oregon Chief Justice Order 24-014, Release Guidelines (May 22, 2024)

Time to see a judge

A person held in custody must be arraigned within the first 36 hours of custody, not counting weekends and holidays, unless there is good cause or the defendant asks for more time.

ORS 135.010

Money bail

Senate Bill 48, in effect since July 1, 2022, ended security (money bail) schedules that applied right after arrest. A judge may still require security at arraignment after finding that release on recognizance or conditions is unwarranted.

Oregon Chief Justice Order 24-014, Release Guidelines (May 22, 2024)ORS 135.233

Courts

Circuit courts are Oregon's state trial courts and try all felonies and most misdemeanors. Some counties also have justice courts, and some cities have municipal courts; both may hear misdemeanors committed in their area but not felonies.

ORS 51.050ORS 221.339

Judges and magistrates

Voters elect circuit judges on a nonpartisan ballot to six-year terms, and judges must be members of the Oregon State Bar. Justices of the peace are elected to six-year terms. A justice of the peace must be a bar member or complete a judicial course, except in justice courts of record, where bar membership is required.

Or. Const. art. VII (amended), sec. 1ORS 3.050ORS 254.005ORS 51.210, 51.240

Read from the statutes and court rules cited, 2026-09-30. Which judicial districts use a risk tool, and which one, was not checked.

• La Grande13,058
• Union2,290
• Elgin1,549
• Island City1,145
• Cove651
• North Powder563
• Imbler189
• Summerville town106

Every city, village, town, and township with any of its land in Union County, largest first. Population, the whole place's: Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024.

• La Grande Police DepartmentCity police department13,071 served
• Union County Sheriff's OfficeSheriff or county police12,921 served
• Liquor Commission: Union CountyOther state agency
• State Police: Union CountyState police agency

Agencies: FBI NIBRS master file 2025 batch headers; names from the FBI agency list, pulled 2026-09-29. An agency that serves several counties appears on each. Population served is the FBI's figure.