Ridgefield Breach of Peace Lawyer

Breach of the peace is a criminal offense that is repeatedly charged in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Breach of Peace is overly broad–covering a wide range of everyday situations. Angry arguments in public, being caught in the midst of a fistfight, or demonstrating in a peaceful protest are all circumstances that can result in an individual being charged with breach of the peace.

Although this offense is considered an ordinary occurrence in law enforcement, the potential consequences to the individual facing the charges can prove extraordinarily difficult to handle. If you have been charged with reckless behavior, contact a Ridgefield breach of peace lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced domestic violence attorney can help you craft a strong defense strategy based on the facts of your case.

Classifying Reckless Behavior Offenses

Behavior that will be treated as a breach of the peace in the second degree is described in the Connecticut criminal code, in Section 53a-181. According to the statute, an individual must either intend to cause alarm, inconvenience, or annoyance to another or must act with reckless disregard as to the possibility of causing such a reaction. Individuals should speak with a Ridgefield breach of peace lawyer who can give them more insights on how to proceed with their case. 

When acting with such recklessness or intent, an individual’s actions constitute a second-degree breach of the peace when the individual:

• Posts indecent, abusive, or offensive information about another
• Creates an offensive or hazardous public condition
• Uses obscene gestures or language in public
• Hits or assaults another
• Threatens to commit a crime against another person or property
• Engages in a fight or similarly threatening public behavior

First-Degree Breach of the Peace Arrests

Although six different types of situations can be considered a second-degree breach of the peace, the felony version of this offense is defined more narrowly. First-degree breach of the peace is described in Section 53a-180aa of the Connecticut code as placing an imitation explosive device or hazardous material in a location with a great likelihood that it will be discovered by others. In order to be guilty of this offense, Ridgefield breach of peace lawyers have seen that an individual must act with intent to alarm, annoy or inconvenience others or with reckless indifference as to the possibility of doing so.

What are Associated Penalties?

To effectively fight a Ridgefield arrest, individuals first need to understand the difference between the various degrees of Breach of Peace. In Connecticut, there are two different statutes that define two separate breach of peace crimes. Second-degree breach of the peace is treated as a Class B misdemeanor. Those convicted face a potential sentence of up to six months imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000.

First-degree breach of the peace is a more serious offense, classified as a Class D felony. Due to that classification, the penalties for this crime include a minimum term of one year in prison up to a maximum of five years. Moreover, the court may impose a fine of up to $5,000.

Help from a Ridgefield Breach of Peace Attorney

The criminal charge becomes a matter of public record, as does any resulting conviction. These records are frequently accessed by employers, credit officers, landlords, and others and can have a negative impact stretching far into the future. In addition, a conviction for breach of the peace could require payment of a substantial fine or serving time in a correctional facility.

Because intent is a key element in breach of the peace cases, evidence that demonstrates an individual’s intent is important to the outcome and needs to be collected and preserved as soon as possible. A Ridgefield breach of peace lawyer understands how courts have applied the laws to a variety of circumstances and can explain the available options and chart the best course of action based on your particular case. Contact now to get started.