Disorderly Conduct Attorney in Middlesex County
Disorderly Conduct Lawyer
Criminal Defense Attorneys in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Disorderly conduct is a very common offense that is frequently results in arrests and charges in “party towns” that include colleges and/or a vibrant nightlife scene. These towns include New Brunswick and Piscataway, as the home of Rutgers University as well as Edison and Woodbridge. Often, Middlesex County residents run into trouble involving disorderly conduct in Jersey Shore towns that include Belmar, Seaside Heights, and Manasquan. As you might imagine, these offenses are usually alcohol-related and can be charged as a result of public intoxication, bar fights, and yelling or causing a scene on the street. This charge is often magnified by the fact that minors are involved. Disorderly conduct is a criminal charge and a conviction will likely remain on your permanent record. This will affect employment and educational opportunities in addition to exposing you to penalties that include mandatory probation, community service, and even incarceration in county jail.
At the Law Offices of William Proetta Criminal Law our attorneys represent clients who have been charged with disorderly conduct throughout Middlesex County and New Jersey, including in Carteret, South Plainfield, Old Bridge, Spotswood, South Amboy, North Brunswick, and Cranbury. Our lawyers have comprehensive experience involving thousands of criminal and municipal court charges including a wide assortment of disorderly conduct cases. If you or your loved one has been arrested and subsequently charged with disorderly conduct, then it is in your best interest to hire an experienced criminal lawyer to defend your interests and protect your rights. To discuss your case in greater detail, contact our Edison office at (732) 659-9600 for a free initial consultation.
Disorderly Conduct Defense Lawyer
The Disorderly Conduct law is a statute that is intentionally designed to be broad sweeping. It includes a wide array of prohibited acts. Please see the New Jersey statute 2C:33-2 below in pertinent part for your reading convenience:
a. Improper behavior. A person is guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense, if with purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly create a risk thereof he or she: (1) Engages in fighting or threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior; or (2) Creates a hazardous or physically dangerous condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose of the actor.
b. Offensive language. A person is guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense if, in a public place, and with purpose to offend the sensibilities of a hearer or in reckless disregard of the probability of doing so, he addresses unreasonably loud and offensively coarse or abusive language, given the circumstances of the person present and the setting of the utterance, to any person present.
Criminal Penalties for Disorderly Conduct
In order for you to be convicted of disorderly conduct in New Jersey, the state need only prove that you acted with the purpose to cause annoyance, public inconvenience, or alarm. This can be manifested either through physical acts or words. Disorderly conduct is considered a petty disorderly persons offense (petty misdemeanor). As such, if convicted, you can be sentenced to serve up to 30 days in the county jail. Through our experience, we have often seen disorderly conduct charges accompanied by “companion” charges such as Harassment, Simple Assault, Resisting Arrest, or Criminal Trespass. If you face charges in addition to disorderly conduct, you are also exposed the penalties associated with these crimes.
Disorderly Conduct Ordinance Violations
A person can also be issued a municipal ordinance violation for disorderly conduct in New Brunswick, NJ. New Brunswick enacted Ordinance Number 9.04.050to address disorderly conduct offenses that occur within city limits. There are a variety of activities that may lead to an ordinance for disorderly conduct, including:
- Indecent exposure
- Annoying passers-by on a street or sidewalk by making indecent gestures
- Disturbing the peace in a public place by playing a device of any kind
- Sleeping in a parked vehicle anywhere in the city
If you are found guilty of violating Ordinance No. 9.04.050 in New Brunswick, you may be subject to a maximum fine of $2,000 as well as up to 90 days in jail.
The distinction between an ordinance violation and a criminal charge for disorderly conduct is extremely important. While disorderly conduct in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2 will lead to a criminal conviction on your record , an ordinance violation is not considered a criminal offense under NJ law. In many cases, our attorneys are able to have a disorderly conduct criminal charge downgraded to an ordinance to help our clients avoid a criminal record. In all of the disorderly conduct cases we handle, our goal is to minimize or avoid the potential penalties you are facing.
Contact Our Middlesex County, NJ Disorderly Conduct Attorney Today
If you are accused of disorderly conduct in Middlesex County, New Jersey, it is important to consult an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can position you for a successful outcome. At the Law Offices of William Proetta Criminal Law, our lawyers take protecting our clients’ legal rights very seriously. If you hire us, you can feel confident that you have the representation of an experienced criminal defense attorney who knows the court system. We pride ourselves on keeping our clients informed and “in the loop” throughout the entire process. If you would like to speak with a disorderly conduct lawyer during an free initial consultation contact our office at (732) 659-9600. We are available 24/7 to assist you.