Danbury Disorderly Conduct Lawyer

Because of how broadly the offense of “Disorderly Conduct” is defined under the Connecticut Penal Code, it is not uncommon for people who have been charged with this offense to be unsure of why they were arrested or how they actually broke the law. Regardless of the circumstances leading up to it, though, an allegation of this nature can have serious repercussions for you in both your personal and professional life, and you should strongly consider seeking help from a Danbury Disorderly Conduct lawyer sooner rather than later.

Understanding “Disorderly Conduct” as a Criminal Offense

Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) § 53a-182 lists several different actions that qualify as criminal “Disorderly Conduct,” including getting into a physical fight in public, interfering with a lawful gathering, being too loud, or refusing to disperse from a public place after being ordered to do so by police. Perhaps the most important part of this statute, though, is subsection (a)(2), which states that someone commits Disorderly Conduct if they bother or interfere with another person through “offensive or disorderly conduct.”

What this means in practice is that police officers have a great deal of discretion to decide on their own whether something a person does in public constitutes illegal “Disorderly Conduct,” and that person can then be prosecuted primarily or entirely based on that officer’s testimony. Arguing against a cop’s word can be exceedingly difficult and requires a great deal of skill that a Danbury defense attorney can bring to the table.

If appropriate, legal counsel can also negotiate with court authorities for alternative sentencing arrangements in the event of a conviction or guilty plea—for example, probation as opposed to jail time.

Potential Repercussions of a Disorderly Conduct Charge

On that note, since Disorderly Conduct is categorized as a Class C misdemeanor, the maximum criminal sanctions that someone convicted of violating C.G.S. §53a-182 could face would be 90 days of jail time and $500 in fines. However, even if a defendant is not convicted of criminal wrongdoing or has not even had their day in court yet, they may still face significant restrictions on their rights and personal freedom if their offense is considered to be “family violence.”

In brief, someone who allegedly commits a Disorderly Conduct offense targeting a “family or household member” of theirs may be subject to dramatically expedited pretrial procedures, the imposition of a protective order against them which will last until their trial concludes, and potentially even investigation by the state Department of Children and Families. This is another area of the law where help from a capable Disorderly Conduct lawyer in Danbury can be crucial to getting the best possible case result.

Speak with a Danbury Disorderly Conduct Attorney About Legal Options

Disorderly Conduct may only be classified as a misdemeanor offense, but the effects of a charge of this nature—let alone a conviction—can reverberate through every part of your life, potentially including your relationship with your family. Fortunately, you have help available from a dedicated Danbury Disorderly Conduct lawyer who knows exactly how to handle situations like yours in proactive and effective ways. Call Mark Sherman Law today for a consultation, and click here to view what our previous clients have said about working with us.