Disorderly Conduct Lawyer Philadelphia

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Disorderly Conduct is a Criminal Offense which is charged on a person whom the prosecutors believe intentionally or recklessly caused public nuisance. While this seems fairly vague on its face, the statute is meant to cover a wide range of conduct that annoys and alarms.

In Pennsylvania, Disorderly Conduct consists of two elements. In other words, you must do two things to be found guilty of disorderly conduct:

  1. You must have an intent to cause to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly create a risk of it; and
  2. Any of the following:
    1. Engage in fighting or threaten fighting or engage in violent or tumultuous behavior;
    2. Make unreasonable noise;
    3. Use obscene language, or making an obscene gesture;
    4. Create a hazardous or physically offensive condition with no legitimate purpose.

For example, a person who yells expletives at people on the sidewalk can be arrested for Disorderly Conduct because he or she is causing a public inconvenience and using obscene language. Even if this person is only yelling on the street, he or she can still be charged with Disorderly Conduct, because he or she is creating a hazardous or physically offensive condition which has no legitimate purpose by yelling at passer-bys.

However, some offensive conditions may be excused if they have a legitimate purpose. If, for instance, the person on the street is a political protester, and is yelling because he or she opposes a war, he or she is considered to have a legitimate purpose, and therefore cannot be found guilty of the offense.

This offense is also used to charge people who have been caught drinking or doing something similar in public. Disorderly Conduct can be also used by many prosecutors and police officers as a downgrade offense.

What Are the Potential Consequences of a Disorderly Conduct?

Philadelphia Disorderly Conduct LawyerA Disorderly Conduct can be graded as a summary offense, or, in more rare cases, a misdemeanor of the third degree.  Any criminal conviction, no matter how small it seems, can have a long-term, negative effect on your job status, job prospects, school, and personal life. In Pennsylvania, convictions are even archived online, and made accessible to everyone, so that a simple Google search can bring up the fact you were arrested and convicted.If you are charged with a summary offense, you can expect a maximum of up to 90 days in jail and a $250 fine, plus costs. If you are charged with misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct, you can expect a maximum of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.

The difference between a Misdemeanor and a summary offense version of this crime is that a person can be charged with the higher offense if they intend to cause substantial harm or serious inconvenience, or if the person continues to engage in Disorderly Conduct after reasonable warning to stop.

Should I Get an Attorney to Fight the Charge?

The bottom line: Fighting a Disorderly Conduct charge can be challenging. You should consult an attorney who can present your case to the court in the best light possible for you. The Criminal Defense Lawyers in Philadelphia at The Law Firm of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. have decades of experiences in dealing with these types of charges. Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation.