Bergenfield NJ Disorderly Conduct Lawyer 

In New Jersey, disorderly conduct is considered  petty disorderly persons offense (misdemeanor). If convicted, a Defendant could face up up to thirty (30) days in the Bergen County Jail and up to a $500.00 fine.  In addition, a conviction will also leave a Defendant with a criminal record that will not be eligible to be expunged for three (3) years. This can be a long time especially for someone applying for jobs.  The governing statute in New Jersey for disorderly conduct is N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2.  This offense is probably the most common criminal summons issued in Bergen County. Some other common criminal offenses include marijuana possession, simple assault, stalking and criminal mischief.

The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall has been defending individuals charged with disorderly conduct throughout Bergen County including towns like Paramus, Mahwah, Ramsey, Englewood, Fort Lee, Palisades Interstate Park, Lodi, Montvale and Elmwood Park for over fifteen years. Our office has eight criminal defense attorneys on staff, which makes our office one of the largest criminal defense firms in the State let alone Bergen County. We have eight criminal defense attorneys on staff, two of whom are former Municipal Court Prosecutor’s. If you would like to come into our Hackensack Office and have a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys then please contact us at 201-429-9783. Here is some important information with regards to a disorderly conduct offense.

Disorderly Conduct Lawyers in Mahwah NJ

Elements of Disorderly Conduct: N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2

There are two separate sections of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2 which a Defendant may be charged with:

Improper Behavior: Before an individual can be convicted, the Municipal Prosecutor must be prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had a purpose to cause or recklessly created a risk of public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm AND the defendant did so by either

  • Engaging in fighting, threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior or
  • Creating a hazardous or physically dangerous condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose of the defendant.

Offensive Language:  A person is also guilty of a disorderly conduct offense if, in a public place, and with purpose to offend another or in reckless disregard of the probability of so doing, he:

  • Addresses another in an unreasonably loud with offensively/abusive language.

Most of these incidents arise out of verbal arguments. However, with that being said the, the broad language of the statute allows for wide range of conduct.

Applicable Penalties:

As stated earlier, a disorderly conduct charge is a petty disorderly persons offense. A petty disorderly persons offense in New Jersey is equivalent a misdemeanor in most other states, a low level crime. The potential penalties for anyone convicted of this offense are up to thirty days in jail and a $500.00 fine. The judge also has the discretion to impose a probationary term and/or some form of community service. With that being said, New Jersey has recently enacted a diversionary program known as the Conditional Dismissal Program. For more information on this programs and its benefits please contact our Hackensack Office. 

Edgewater NJ Disorderly Conduct Lawyer

The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall is comprised of eight criminal defense attorneys, whom have over 10o years of combined legal experience. If you or a loved one has been charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, simple assault, trespassing, criminal mischief or shoplifting, we can help. Our office routinely appears in Courts throughout Bergen County including The Rutherford Municipal Court, the Lodi Municipal Court, the Saddle Brook Municipal Court, the Hackensack  Municipal Court and the Central Municipal Court of Bergen. Please contact our Hackensack Office directly at 201-429-9783 for a free initial consultation about your pending charges. Our attorneys are available 24/7 to help assist in any way possible.