Disorderly Conduct Penalties in Fairfield

If you have been arrested for disorderly conduct, a dedicated lawyer could help you to understand the disorderly conduct penalties in Fairfield you may face and help you proceed towards a positive resolution of your case.

What is Disorderly Conduct?

According to Connecticut General Statutes §53a-182, disorderly conduct is a class C misdemeanor offense. Disorderly conduct charges often stem from a police officer’s belief that someone’s behavior was “offensive or disorderly” in nature, but more specific actions that qualify as disorderly conduct under this statute include:

  • Engaging in a fight in public
  • Making an unreasonable amount of noise
  • Obstructing traffic
  • Interrupting a peaceful and legal public gathering
  • Refusing to leave a public gathering on a police officer’s order
  • Being a “Peeping Tom,” or spying on someone while trespassing on their property

If convicted of disorderly conduct, the maximum criminal penalties a person in Fairfield could face would be a three-month stay in jail and a $500 fine. While it is usually uncommon for first-time offenders to receive jail time for this degree of offense, it remains an option for a judge to use at their discretion, and a previous criminal record may inspire harsher punishments upon conviction.

What Are Some of The Potential Consequences for Domestic Violence Disorderly Conduct?

If someone commits an act of disorderly conduct that victimizes a family member, household member, or relationship partner, their case may be prosecuted as domestic violence. This designation does not enhance the criminal punishments a defendant may face if they are convicted in a criminal court, but it does open them up to a host of other consequences.

As soon as the next business morning, a person accused of domestic violence disorderly conduct will be required to appear for their initial arraignment hearing—a much faster pace for this process than a typical misdemeanor offense warrants. At this arraignment hearing, the judge will almost certainly issue a temporary protective order that will last until the defendant’s criminal case concludes and may require the defendant to temporarily move out of their home or cease all contact with their alleged victim. This temporary order can be extended into a standing criminal protective order if their case ends with a criminal conviction.

Furthermore, if law enforcement suspects that a defendant’s disorderly conduct threatened the wellbeing of children in their house, they may be subject to a months-long investigation by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. In many cases, these penalties for disorderly conduct in Fairfield may be even more disruptive than the ones that could be handed down during criminal sentencing. To learn more about Fairfield DCF investigations, click here.

Contest Disorderly Conduct Penalties with a Fairfield Attorney’s Help

An experienced disorderly conduct attorney could offer guidance about disorderly conduct penalties in Fairfield and how you could structure your case to potentially avoid them. Check out our hundreds of certified 5-star reviews here and call 203-358-4700 to learn more about how we can help you.

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