Connecticut Disorderly Conduct Investigations
Connecticut disorderly conduct investigations should always be taken seriously, and part of that means getting the advice of a legal representative right away. A skilled disorderly conduct lawyer could advocate on your behalf throughout the entire investigative process, helping to ensure you do not inadvertently do anything to harm your legal defense.
How Can Someone Be Charged with Disorderly Conduct?
When police respond to an alleged domestic disturbance, disorderly conduct is one of the most common charges they levy against at least the supposed aggressor, but sometimes against both parties involved. Connecticut General Statutes §53a-182 lists a number of different grounds that this charge could be based on, but typically disorderly conduct offenses stem from one or more of the following:
- Fighting or tumultuous behavior in view of the public
- Too much noise within the public’s earshot
- Going onto another person’s property and spying on them without their knowledge when they had a reasonable expectation of privacy
- Annoying or interfering with someone else through “offensive or disorderly conduct”
If any actions that fall within this legal definition of “disorderly conduct” are targeted at a spouse, dating partner, family member, or household member, the ensuing criminal offense would likely be classified as domestic violence. Accordingly, any Connecticut disorderly conduct investigation that follows would focus not only on proving that the defendant’s conduct qualifies as disorderly, but also on determining whether that conduct indicates a risk of continued harm to their family or housemates. To learn more about how a lawyer could help you defend a domestic violence case, click here.
What Happens During a Disorderly Conduct Investigation?
Once you are arrested, the prosecutor’s office will begin looking for evidence to prove their case against you. Typically, in a disorderly conduct case evidence consists of witness statements, maybe texts between you and the alleged victim, and on the rare occasion footage of the incident. Any top attorney will tell you it is important that you gather counterevidence to build a strong defense.
What’s an Arraignment?
Your first time appearing before a judge after a disorderly conduct arrest is called the arraignment. Often, in situations of domestic violence the court will impose a protective order. This can prevent you from speaking to or seeing the alleged victim, or even from returning home. This adds an extra layer to an already complex situation, but a lawyer can help. To learn more about protective orders in domestic violence cases, click here.
Will DCF Get Involved?
If children were involved in the Connecticut domestic dispute leading to your arrest, you may very well face investigation by DCF as well. Their investigations can be much more invasive with DCF investigators coming to inspect your home and wanting to speak to your children alone. If DCF determines that the defendant has a pattern of violent behavior that puts their kids at risk of harm, they may end up losing custody or visitation rights in addition to any criminal sanctions they end up facing if their criminal case ends with a conviction. To learn more about DCF investigations and how to defend against them, click here.
Learn More About Disorderly Conduct Investigations from a Connecticut Attorney
If you find yourself facing a Connecticut disorderly conduct investigation, the best way to protect your best interests and effectively pursue a positive resolution is almost always to seek help from a qualified legal professional. Click here to read the hundreds of reviews from happy clients on avvo.com. Then reach out today to speak with an attorney about how you should approach your case.