Charged With Disorderly Conduct in Union
The broad language of the New Jersey disorderly conduct law makes it a popular offense for the Union County Police to resort to when they believe someone is disturbing public peace. They have also been known to overreach in filing this charge. Not every disagreement or disturbance rises to the level of a violation. As attorneys that have an office in Union Township and have practiced in the Union Municipal Court for decades, we appreciate that this offense is filed far too often. Our defense lawyers also understand that, even in those cases where disorderly conduct has been committed, this should not have the ability to tarnish the life of the accused. An attorney at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall is ready to put our 100 plus years of experience, including time serving as prosecutors, to work so that you avoid a conviction for disorderly conduct in Union New Jersey. Call 908-272-1700 for a free consultation with a lawyer on our team.
Disorderly Conduct Offense in Union New Jersey
The offense of disorderly conduct is set forth at N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2 of the New Jersey Criminal Code. Disorderly conduct arises under this law based on improper behavior or use of offensive language. Improper behavior results in a violation of 2C:33-2 when it is intended to “cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creates a risk thereof” because of:
- Fighting
- Threatening
- Engaging in violent or tumultuous behavior
- Creating a hazardous of dangerous through acts serving no legitimate purpose
As previously stated, you can also be convicted of disorderly conduct by using offensive language in a public place. A “public place” is any location that is accessible to the public including transport facilities, a school, apartment, house, business, amusement park and similar facilities, a prison, highway, sidewalk or neighborhood. Speech violates 2C:33-2 if it is for the purpose of offending the sensibilities of a hearer or in reckless disregard of the probability of so doing and it is “unreasonably loud and offensively coarse or abusive language given the circumstances”.
Disorderly conduct is a petty disorderly persons offense that can result in penalties in Union Township Municipal Court that include up to 30 days in jail, a $500 fine and even suspension of your driver’s license. A conviction also leaves you with a criminal record. Because disorderly conduct is frequently accompanied by other charges, such as simple assault and resisting arrest, you may be exposed to additional penalties in the even of an unfavorable outcome. The conditional dismissal is a program that our attorneys can explore in order to avoid prosecution for disorderly conduct.
Union NJ Disorderly Conduct Attorneys
Failure to defend your disorderly conduct charge clearly can have a serious impact on your life. Retaining the services of an experienced disorderly conduct lawyer can ensure that you have every chance of avoiding a conviction. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have over a century in practice to put into action on your behalf. An attorney on our staff who is skilled and resourceful will evaluate the evidence and identifying possible defenses or mitigating factors that can lead to a dismissal. Contact our Union Office today at 908-272-1700 for sound guidance from one of our lawyers.
