Need a Lawyer for Disorderly Conduct Charge in Wall Township
Have you been placed under arrest and charged with disorderly conduct in Wall Township? If so, you are not alone. disorderly conduct, which is often confused with a disorderly persons offense, is by far one of the most common criminal offenses charged in towns throughout Monmouth County, including Wall Township. First and foremost, disorderly conduct is a type of charge where is a disorderly persons offenses is a degree of a charge. This offense, which is often referred to as the “catch all” charge, tends to be one of the most frequent crimes litigated in the Wall Municipal Court year in and year out. As you will be able to see below, disorderly conduct is a petty disorderly persons offense, which is New Jersey’s version of a misdemeanor. So, if convicted, not only will an individual be subject to being incarcerated but they will also be scarred with a permanent criminal record as well. At Keith Oliver Criminal Law, we take these charges very seriously and fully understand what a conviction for this type of offense can do to someone’s future. As such, our Wall Township criminal defense attorneys are dedicated to aggressively defending these types of charges in order to assure our clients futures are not in jeopardy. If you would like to set up a free initial consultation today, then please contact our office directly at 732.858.6959. Please do not take this type of charge lightly, a criminal conviction, let alone a potential jail sentence can be life changing.
What is Disorderly Conduct?
Disorderly conduct, which is governed by NJSA 2C:33-2a, was purposely left vague by the legislature in order to cover a variety of potential incidents. Some of those incidents include verbal arguments, public intoxication, minor physical altercations and generally improper behavior. With that being said, the reach of this offense is not endless and at times, it tends to be overcharged. That is where an experienced criminal defense attorney can seek to exploit the weakness in the State’s case. There are in essence two main subsections under NJSA 2C:33-2a in which an individual could find themselves being charged with. They are improper behavior and offensive language. Here is what the prosecution must prove in order to obtain a conviction for disorderly conduct:
NJSA 2C:33-2a: Improper behavior:
- The Defendant, with the purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof:
- Engaged in fighting or threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior; or
- Created a hazardous or physically dangerous condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose of the actor.
NJSA 2C:33-2b: Offensive language:
- The Defendant, while in a public place, and with purpose to offend the sensibilities of a hearer or in reckless disregard of the probability of so doing, addressed unreasonably loud and offensively coarse or abusive language…
Is Disorderly Conduct a Criminal Offense?
Yes. Disorderly conduct is considered a petty disorderly persons offense. Although this is the lowest level criminal offense in New Jersey, the ramifications if convicted can have a devastating impact on someone’s life. Those penalties include the following: up to 30 days in jail, up to $500 fine, fess and assessments nearing $250, a criminal record and the imposition of a probationary period. If convicted, a Defendant will not be eligible to expunge their criminal record for at least three years provided this is the only offense on their record. For more information on expungements, please click the link.
Do I have to go to Court for a Disorderly Conduct Charge? Can I just Pay a Fine?
Yes, court is mandatory for anyone arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. So, anyone charged with disorderly conduct in Wall Township, whether it be by the local Wall Police Department or the New Jersey State Police, the charges will be sent to the Wall Municipal Court for disposition. The Wall Municipal Court is located at 2700 Allaire Road is in session every Tuesday at 8:30 am and 1 pm and every Wednesday at 8:30 am. For directions to the Wall Municipal Court, please click link below.
Need Directions to the Wall Municipal Court?
Facing a Disorderly Conduct Charge in Wall Township
Keith Oliver Criminal Law is a Monmouth County based criminal defense firm, with a team of attorneys that has dedicated their careers to defending those accused of crimes in courts throughout the County including the Wall Municipal Court. If your or a loved one has been placed under arrest and issued a summons for disorderly conduct, marijuana possession, driving while intoxicated, simple assault, harassment or served with a restraining order in Wall Township, we can help. To speak to one of our Wall criminal defense lawyers today, please contact our office at 732.858.6959 or you can try contact us online.