First-Time Disorderly Conduct Offenders in Connecticut

A first time offender arrest or summons for disorderly conduct in the Connecticut domestic violence criminal courts can rattle any family. Going through the Connecticut domestic violence court system can feel like being thrown into a gauntlet of interrogations, court hearings, and restraining orders, which can be particularly frustrating if your wife or husband has set you up and you were wrongfully arrested for disorderly conduct in the first place.

However, with the assistance of a Connecticut disorderly conduct lawyer, there are quick and creative strategies for getting your Connecticut disorderly conduct arrest and 53a-182 charges dismissed quickly and expunged from your record and background checks.

Restraining & Protective Orders

First-time arrests for Disorderly Conduct in the Connecticut domestic violence courts under CGS 53a-182 almost always go hand in hand with a protective / restraining order hearing that takes place on the very next business morning. While we provide a full timeline and step-by-step explanation on this website of what to expect at your first day in court for a Connecticut arrest for a domestic violence crime like Assault in the Third Degree, Disorderly Conduct, Threatening or Harassment, you should be most on guard for the restraining order hearing that will take place around 12 noon during the morning court call for arraignments.

The court will hear arguments and safety assessment reports from the Office of Family Relations, Bail Commissioner, Victim Advocate, State’s Attorney and then look to you and your Stamford Connecticut criminal lawyer attorney for compelling reasons why a stringent Connecticut restraining order should not be issued against you.

After considering all of the allegations and arguments, the judge will then issue a restraining order that can actually ban you from returning to your home or having contact with your husband, wife and kids for weeks or even months.

Getting Your Arrest Dismissed Quickly

Fortunately, first time Connecticut domestic violence offenders who get arrested for Disorderly Conduct have options other than pleading guilty to the misdemeanor charge.

What Are the Penalties for Disorderly Conduct?

The first thing you should realize is that even though the Connecticut police may not have booked, fingerprinted or photographed you, when you get a ticket for Disorderly Conduct in Connecticut, that is recorded on your record as a misdemeanor arrest. The crime of 53a-182 is a Class C misdemeanor and punishable by up to three months in jail, so it’s not something that you want to plead guilty to in order to make your Connecticut case go away quickly.

What you should discuss with lawyers in Connecticut is how to get your case dismissed without 1) pleading guilty, or 2) having to enroll in the Family Violence Education Program. You see, pleading guilty sets you up to fail again, as another arrest for Disorderly Conduct in Connecticut significantly increases your chances of going to jail.

And enrolling in the Family Violence Education Program is not always ideal, as it will keep your case alive and the restraining order in place for up to two years. There are other options for getting your case dismissed, so be sure to reach out to any of the best Connecticut criminal lawyers who fight domestic violence arrests in the criminal courts.

How Does DCF Investigate Disorderly Conduct Claims?

After a disorderly conduct claim, individuals should expect a full, thorough and unfortunately, invasive DCF investigation into your family following your Disorderly Conduct arrest. Connecticut Department of Children and Family investigators are required to visit homes where Disorderly Conduct arrests have taken place. They are further required to conduct comprehensive safety assessments or investigations within 45 days of the referral to their office, which can make a family feel even more exploited and violated by the justice system.

Fighting a DCF investigation presents a challenge for families. On the one hand, if you are resistant to or evasive with DCF, then they will go to court and can threaten your rights as a parent. On the other hand, if you let them run roughshod over you, then they may never stop meddling in your life. That’s why many families hire an attorney to assist them at all stages of a Connecticut DCF investigation following a first-time arrest for Disorderly Conduct or any other domestic violence crime.