Charged With Disorderly Conduct in Westfield New Jersey
The offense of disorderly conduct is intended to discourage behavior that disrupts public peace and order in Westfield New Jersey and other municipalities. An individual can expose himself to this charge if they get into a highly contentious argument, engage in fighting, use profanity or under any number of other scenarios. If you were charged with disorderly conduct in Westfield Municipal Court, you should consider getting an attorney to help you. With an experienced lawyer in your corner, there is a much greater chance that you can avoid a criminal record and penalties for disorderly conduct in the Town of Westfield. Here at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our attorneys are accomplished criminal litigators that have been defending disorderly persons offenses like disorderly conduct in Union County for over 100 years combined. Contact us anytime of day or night at 908-272-1700 for a free consultation with one of our lawyers.
Disorderly Conduct Charge in Westfield New Jersey
In New Jersey, the offense of disorderly conduct can be one of two things – (i) improper behavior in public, or (ii) using offensive language in public. Specifically, the New Jersey statute, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2 states as follows:
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 creating a risk thereof he
(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 so doing, 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.
Defenses to Disorderly Conduct. Of the many defenses that a zealous defense attorney can raise in your case, it is always a defense to disorderly conduct to show that your purpose was not to “cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm,” or “offend the sensibilities of the hearer.” If the prosecution is unable to prove those essential elements of a disorderly conduct charge, then the case should be dismissed.
Disorderly Conduct Penalty. Disorderly conduct is considered a petty disorderly persons offense. That type of offense carries a possible sentence of up to 30 days in jail, up to a $500 fine, and possible community service and/or probation.
Westfield Disorderly Conduct Defense Attorney
Whether you were charged with disorderly conduct for fighting, a prank that went too far or another set of facts, you should obtain the services of an experienced defense attorney. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have been helping clients arrested on a charge for disorderly conduct in Westfield for decades. We will ensure that you reach the best possible outcome, including avoiding jail time, monetary fines and a criminal record. To learn more about how a lawyer at our firm can help you, call 908-272-1700. Attorneys are standing by 24/7 to discuss your Westfield disorderly conduct charge.
