Oregon Court & Family Education Guide
Information for anyone navigating a court order, custody case, or probation requirement in Oregon that involves anger management, parenting, co-parenting, or substance-abuse education.
What does Clearway offer?
People are sometimes ordered or referred to an educational program as part of a family-law, custody, probation, or other Oregon court-related matter. The type of program required can depend on the circumstances of the case and the exact wording of the court order.
Clearway Institute offers four self-paced online courses: anger management, parenting, co-parenting, and substance-abuse education. Not every course is appropriate for every court order, and completing an online course does not automatically mean a particular Oregon court, probation department, or agency will accept it — always read your order carefully and confirm the required program with the court, probation officer, attorney, or other referring agency when you're not sure.
Which type of class do you need?
Start with whichever matches your order or situation — each course page has the full curriculum before you enroll.
What if a Oregon court ordered it?
Oregon doesn't appear to have a statewide statute requiring a certified anger-management class after an assault or domestic-violence conviction. Conditions are usually set case by case as probation conditions under ORS 137.540, which includes evaluations (such as mental health or substance abuse) directed by the supervising officer. The Oregon Department of Justice has adopted batterer intervention program standards (OAR 137-087), and programs are approved for referral at the county level.
On the civil side, Oregon's Family Abuse Prevention Act restraining orders come under ORS 107.718, and ORS 107.137 treats abuse of one parent by the other as a custody factor. A final restraining order generally lasts two years unless withdrawn, modified or superseded. What an order or judgment actually requires can differ by court, so confirm exactly what your own order requires before enrolling in any course.
What's the difference between classes?
Parenting vs. co-parenting. Parenting covers general child-development, discipline, and communication skills, and comes up in a wide range of family cases. Co-parenting is built specifically for separated or divorcing parents — coordinating two households, handling custody transitions, and keeping kids out of the middle — and is the more common requirement in a custody or divorce order.
Anger management vs. a certified intervention program. Many states, Oregon included, treat general educational anger-management coursework as legally distinct from a state-certified batterer intervention, family-violence intervention, or abuser-treatment program ordered specifically in a domestic-violence case — see “What if a Oregon court ordered it?” above for how that distinction works here. If your order names a specific certified program by name, an educational anger-management course usually isn't an automatic substitute — check with your court.
Where can I verify requirements?
The most reliable answer always comes from whoever issued your order — the court clerk, your probation or parole officer, your attorney, or the agency that referred you. Below are free, Oregon-specific places to start if you need legal help, counseling, or crisis support along the way.
Legal reference material
For anyone who wants to read the underlying statutes for themselves, here is the reference material this guide is based on — Oregon civil and family-law sections first, then criminal law.
Civil & family law
Child custody best-interest factorsORS 107.137
The court puts the child's best interests first and weighs listed factors, including the emotional ties between the child and family members and the abuse of one parent by the other. A rebuttable presumption applies that sole or joint custody to a parent who committed abuse, as defined in ORS 107.705, is not in the child's best interests.
Family Abuse Prevention Act restraining ordersORS 107.718
A court can issue a restraining order if the petitioner was abused by the respondent within 180 days before filing and faces an imminent danger of further abuse. Relief can include no-contact terms, temporary custody and parenting time, and move-out orders, and a final order lasts two years unless withdrawn, amended or superseded.
Enforcement of restraining ordersORS 107.720; ORS 133.310(3)
An officer with probable cause that a restraining order exists, was served and was violated is directed to make an arrest. The issuing court then sets a security amount for the violation.
Criminal law
Assault in the fourth degreeORS 163.160
Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing physical injury to another is a Class A misdemeanor. It becomes a Class C felony in listed situations, such as when a minor child witnesses it, when the defendant has a qualifying prior conviction involving the same victim, or when the victim is known to be pregnant.
StrangulationORS 163.187
Knowingly impeding another person's breathing or blood circulation by pressure on the throat, neck or chest, or by blocking the nose or mouth, is a Class A misdemeanor. It is a Class C felony in listed situations, including when the victim is a family or household member.
StalkingORS 163.732
Repeated, unwanted contact that knowingly alarms or coerces a person and causes reasonable apprehension about personal safety is a Class A misdemeanor. It is a Class C felony if the person has a prior stalking conviction or a prior conviction for violating a stalking protective order.
Violating a restraining order (contempt)ORS 33.015 to 33.155
According to the Oregon Department of Justice, violations of Family Abuse Prevention Act restraining orders are filed as contempt charges, and punitive contempt can include up to 6 months in jail. Punitive sanctions require proof beyond a reasonable doubt.