Building a Defense in Weston Disorderly Conduct Cases
If you were accused of domestic violence disorderly conduct, you may want to speak with legal counsel before trying to defend yourself in or out of court.
Building a defense in Weston disorderly conduct cases can be complex, so it is best to seek representation from a qualified lawyer.
What is Disorderly Conduct?
Connecticut General Statutes §53a-182 defines seven circumstances under which a person may be arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, six of which are specifically defined as the following:
- Spying on someone while trespassing on their property, and while that person should be able to reasonably expect privacy
- Engaging in “violent, tumultuous, or threatening behavior” with someone else in public
- Making too much noise in public
- Blocking pedestrian or vehicle traffic
- Disturbing a lawful public gathering
- Not leaving a public gathering when ordered to by a police officer
However, the seventh situation mentioned by this section simply defines disorderly conduct as any offensive conduct that “annoys or interferes with another person.” In other words, state law grants police officers the leeway to make an arrest based on conduct that they individually and independently judge to be “disorderly”—a privilege they, unfortunately, take advantage of often.
Can I Go to Jail for Disorderly Conduct?
If a disorderly conduct case ends with a conviction, criminal penalties may include a three-month jail sentence and a $500 fine, and additional consequences may ensue if the offense is classified as domestic violence. Fortunately, convictions for disorderly conduct are not as common as arrests in Weston, especially when defendants work with an attorney to construct a through legal defense.
Can You Contest Domestic Violence Disorderly Conduct Charges?
The central issue in most domestic violence disorderly conduct cases is an assumption by the arresting law enforcement officer that one or both parties involved in a dispute acted offensively or disruptively toward each other. Accordingly, it is sometimes possible to get disorderly conduct charges dismissed simply by showing that the dispute in question has been resolved and there are no lingering domestic problems. This can be done independently between the parties involved or with help from legal counsel and a third-party mediator.
It is important to collect and preserve all available evidence that may show what really happened, including emergency call recordings, police notes and reports, audio and video surveillance footage, and witness statements. Any discrepancies between the arresting officer’s testimony and this documentary evidence could be key to an effective defense strategy in a Weston disorderly conduct case. To learn more about defending against domestic violence disorderly conduct in Weston, click here.
Speak with a Weston Attorney About Contesting a Disorderly Conduct Case
It is important to act quickly to start working on it. Get in touch with a skilled attorney today to discuss building a defense in your Weston disorderly conduct case. You can read reviews from prior clients on Avvo.com by following this link, and give us a call at 203-358-4700 to learn more.