Disorderly Conduct Charge in Metuchen New Jersey
Contact Our Law Firm To Speak to a Former Metuchen Prosecutor On Our Team
Metuchen is home to approximately 14,000 residents so there are bound to be breaches of public peace and order that result in issuance of disorderly conduct charges. The key for those charged with disorderly conduct is to make sure that a conviction for the offense is avoided in Metuchen Municipal Court. Selecting a lawyer who is experienced in defending a charge for disorderly conduct in Metuchen is going to be the best way for you to arm yourself with the tools to ensure that a criminal record and related penalties are avoided.
Our law firm has a team of attorneys that have the qualifications you need with over 100 years of combined experience. One of our lawyers even served as the prosecutor in Metuchen. We have a long track record of success in securing dismissals and downgrades to an ordinance violation for those arrested for disorderly conduct and similar offenses such as a Metuchen simple assault charge. To speak to an attorney about the circumstances surrounding your charge, contact our office anytime of day or night. An attorney is ready to provide a free consultation at (732) 634-0700.
Disorderly Conduct Offense in Metuchen New Jersey
Disorderly conduct is an offense that the Metuchen Police utilize in a range of setting where someone engages in improper behavior or uses offensive language in public. The disorderly conduct law is set forth at N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2 and is triggered where someone does the following in public:
- Engages in violent or tumultuous conduct, fighting or threatening behavior
- Uses loud, course or abusive language
- Engages in conduct that has no legitimate purpose which creates a hazardous or dangerous condition
Our criminal defense lawyers carefully review the facts and evidence in each case to identify possible defenses that can asserted. Aggressively challenging the evidence and the validity of the charges is how our attorneys have achieved a proven record of success defending people charged with disorderly conduct in Metuchen.
Although N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2 appears to limit disorderly conduct to activities in public places, the list of what is considered to be a public place is extensive. Activities prohibited by the law as disorderly conduct could get you arrested in any of the following locations:
- Roads and highways
- Schools
- Apartment buildings
- Neighborhoods
- Businesses
- Amusement parks
- Train stations, bus terminals and other transportation facilities
As you can see, police can use N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2 extensively as a way to control people’s behavior. Participating in a protest at borough hall, handing out leaflets at the local commuter rail station or putting up a sign on your front law protesting against government officials could, depending on the facts, result in an arrest under N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2.
Penalties for Disorderly Conduct in Metuchen NJ
Your disorderly conduct offense will prosecuted in the Metuchen Municipal Court as a petty disorderly persons offense. Don’t be deceived by its name into believing it is not a serious criminal offense. A petty disorderly persons offense in New Jersey is the equivalent of a misdemeanor in other states.
As with a misdemeanor conviction, a petty disorderly persons conviction will leave you with a permanent criminal record. Each time you fill out an application for employment, you must answer “yes” to the question about having a criminal record. Anytime a background check is conducted, such as for a security clearance, your criminal record will appear.
Suffering the stigma of a criminal record is not the only consequence of a disorderly conduct conviction. New Jersey law gives judges the following penalties to impose on you at sentencing:
- Confinement to the Middlesex County Correctional Facility for up to 30 days
- Community service
- Mandatory counseling
- Driver’s license suspension
- Probation supervision
- Restitution
Metuchen Disorderly Conduct Defense Attorney
Aggressive representation by a Metuchen disorderly conduct lawyer from the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall can protect you from the penalties and other consequences of a criminal conviction. Our seasoned defense lawyers have more than 100 years of collective experience and are committed to protecting your rights. The attorneys on our staff also happen to include one of the municipal prosecutors in Metuchen. Contact us 24/7 at (732) 634- 0700 for a free consultation with an attorney.
