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    How to Fight Your Greenwich & Stamford Domestic Violence Arrest for 53a-182 Disorderly Conduct

    How to Fight Your Greenwich & Stamford Domestic Violence Arrest for 53a-182 Disorderly Conduct

    The best Stamford criminal lawyers will likely agree that the most frequently charged Greenwich and Stamford domestic violence crime is CGS 53a-182 Disorderly Conduct. These top Stamford criminal attorneys will also agree that it’s the most broadly interpreted and enforced Connecticut domestic violence crime, making it easy for you to be arrested in Darien, Greenwich, Stamford, and New Canaan for 53a-182 Disorderly Conduct.

    So what is the best way to fight the frequently enforced and loosely interpreted crime of Disorderly Conduct in Stamford and Greenwich? The answer is more obvious that you would think. Here’s how…

    The Definition of 53a-182 Disorderly Conduct

    As I mentioned, the definition of 53a-182 Disorderly Conduct can cover almost any type of disruptive conduct. In fact, you can be arrested in Darien, New Canaan, Stamford, Greenwich, Wilton, or Weston for Disorderly Conduct if, with the intent to cause annoyance, alarm, or inconvenience, you commit any of the following acts:

    • Participate in threatening or violent conduct;
    • Annoy someone with offensive behavior;
    • Make loud or unreasonable noise;
    • Disrupt or interfere with any kind of public meeting;
    • Interfere with traffic; or
    • Trespass on property with the intent to spy on people (ie. a “peeping tom”).

    A Connecticut Disorderly Conduct arrest is the least serious type of crime, classified as a Class C misdemeanor. It is punishable by up to 3 months in jail, probation, and a maximum $500 fine.

    Disorderly Conduct Charges in Stamford Domestic Violence Arrests

    With such a broad definition of 53a-182 Disorderly Conduct hanging out there, you would assume that any kind of domestic violence incident—whether it be a verbal argument or a physical confrontation—would always give rise to a Stamford Connecticut Disorderly Conduct arrest. Making “offensive behavior” or “loud or unreasonable noise” seems completely subjective and almost impossible to defend against. As top Stamford and Greenwich criminal lawyers have observed, however, in spite of these broad definitions, there are ways to beat these Connecticut domestic violence Disorderly Conduct arrests and criminal charges.

    How to Effectively Fight Your Stamford Connecticut Disorderly Conduct Arrest

    What someone arrested for a Stamford Domestic Violence 53a-182 Disorderly Conduct crime may not realize is that the domestic violence court’s priority is not sticking you with a misdemeanor criminal conviction. Domestic violence court is designed to rehabilitate and heal families, to identify the high-risk versus the low-risk families, to provide services and resources to families who either cannot afford them or are in denial of needing them, and then to remove themselves from the family so they can move forward with their lives and put the domestic violence incident behind them.

    Once someone arrested in Stamford for 53a-182 Domestic Violence appreciates and understands this mission of the Connecticut domestic violence courts, they can be in a better position to participate in the court process with a non-adversarial attitude that will give the court good cause to drop and dismiss your Stamford Disorderly Conduct arrest. This could involve working closely and cooperatively with the Stamford or Norwalk Offices of Family Relations, and working with your top Stamford criminal attorney to communicate honestly and effectively with Family Relations officers, social workers, and domestic violence prosecutors. Another approach that often works is having your Stamford criminal lawyer facilitate a brief family counseling plan that is approved of by court officials that will give the court enough comfort to release its jurisdiction over your Darien or Stamford Disorderly Conduct arrest. Of course you can always fight your Disorderly Conduct arrest by going to trial, but this is a protracted and expensive process which comes with its own set of risks and benefits, so be sure to discuss that option with your top Greenwich criminal lawyer, so you can decide whether that is the best course of action in your case.

    Be Careful of Domestic Violence Protective & Restraining Orders Issued in Stamford & Norwalk Domestic Violence Arrests

    Finally, one last consideration to be aware of in your Norwalk or Stamford Disorderly Conduct arrest is the restraining order hearing that takes place at your first court appearance for your Connecticut Disorderly Conduct arrest. Social workers and family relations officers will briefly meet with you and any alleged victims in your case to conduct an initial risk assessment. These officials will make recommendations to the criminal court judge and prosecutor, who will then conduct a hearing on whether you will be allowed to return to your home, and have contact with your family members. It is a critical point in your domestic violence case—and we have often seen judges order people out of their home, and forbid any kind of contact with their spouses or children…even for a Greenwich and Stamford Disorderly Conduct arrest! Therefore, it is always a good idea to consult a top Stamford and Greenwich domestic violence criminal lawyer prior to your first court appearance for your Disorderly Conduct arrest. These restraining orders and protective orders can last for weeks and months if not handled properly.

    Contact an Experienced Stamford Connecticut Disorderly Conduct Domestic Violence Lawyer Today

    The Mark Sherman Law team of Stamford criminal lawyers are available to assist you with your arrest for Disorderly Conduct in Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Greenwich and Wilton. Click here to learn more about how we can help you fight your Disorderly Conduct arrest. Our priority is getting you the best result possible, cost-effectively and with little disruption to your family life as possible.