Connecticut Criminal Charge of Disorderly Conduct
by
Joseph C. Maya on Aug. 11, 2017
Summary: A blog post about the criminal charge of disorderly conduct in Connecticut.
For a free consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney, please call the offices of Maya Murphy, P.C. today at (203) 221-3100 or Joseph C. Maya, Esq. at JMaya@Mayalaw.com.
Under Connecticut law, a person may be charged with disorderly conduct based upon his or her behavior in public. Upon an arrest or issuance of a summons for a charge of disorderly conduct, the Defendant should review all of the elements of the crime and speak to experienced legal counsel to either combat the crime as charged, or to broker a deal with the prosecution.
Under Connecticut General Statutes, Section 53a-182, a person is guilty of disorderly conduct when, with intent to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, such person: (1) engages in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior; or (2) by offensive or disorderly conduct, annoys or interferes with another person; or (3) makes unreasonable noise; or (4) without lawful authority, disturbs any lawful assembly or meeting of persons; or (5) obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic; or (6) congregates with other persons in a public place and refuses to comply with a reasonable official request or order to disperse; or (7) commits simple trespass, and observes, in other than a casual or cursory manner, another person, (A) without the knowledge or consent of such other person, (B) while such other person is inside a dwelling, and not in plain view, and (C) under circumstances where such other person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
It is apparent through the language of the statute that any one of the seven (7) different elements is sufficient for an individual to be charged with disorderly conduct and face a Class C misdemeanor. The expansiveness of the statute provides discretion for the investigating office to classify the Defendant’s behavior under the statute and therefore, experienced counsel is necessary to help a Defendant remove his or her behavior from the confines of the crime.
If you have been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, contact the experienced criminal law attorneys today at 203-221-3100, or by email at JMaya@mayalaw.com. We have the experience and knowledge you need at this critical juncture. We serve clients throughout Connecticut and all of Fairfield County, from Greenwich and Stamford to Westport and Bridgeport.
Source: C.G.S. § 53a-182
