In the state of Florida, disorderly conduct offenses are typically charged as Misdemeanors. Although Misdemeanors may be viewed as lesser offenses, they could still carry penalties that may impact your ability to secure employment, educational, or other important opportunities.
If your disorderly conduct charge involves alcohol or drugs or is classified as a Felony, the consequences of a conviction can be notably more severe. Either way, you may want to seek the advice of an experienced criminal defense attorney to help construct an effective strategy to combat the allegations against you.
With the help of a Boca Raton disorderly conduct lawyer, you may be able to achieve a positive outcome in your case and avoid the penalties and stigma of having a Misdemeanor or Felony conviction on your permanent record. Call Leifert & Leifert for a free legal consultation to jumpstart your defense strategy today.
Examples of Disorderly Conduct
Behavior that can be classified as disorderly conduct can include incidents such as:
- Arguing with law enforcement
- Impeding traffic or other public passageways
- Inciting a riot
- Publicly arguing
- Publicly urinating or defecating
- Public intoxication
- Brawling or fighting
- Making excessive noise
Ultimately, according to Florida Statutes §877.03, disorderly conduct—or “breach of the peace”—is any behavior that corrupts public morals, outrages the sense of public decency, and/or affects those who may witness the behavior in question.
When someone is charged with disorderly conduct of any degree, they may need seasoned and knowledgeable legal representation in the form of a Boca Raton disorderly conduct defense lawyer. If retained, our lawyers could help research strategies and tools to defend each individual client’s case and work tirelessly to pursue a positive outcome.
Potential Penalties for Disorderly Conduct
Though disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace are relatively minor charges usually classed as Misdemeanors in the State of Florida, they still often result in legal consequences. These penalties may include court-mandated therapy, community service, probation, fines of up to $1,000, and possibly jail time of up to one year.
If alcohol or drugs were involved in an individual’s disorderly conduct arrest, the penalties resulting from that arrest may be harsher. Disorderly intoxication often involves the endangering of another individual’s safety or personal property in a public setting, or any behavior in a public conveyance that disrupts the peace.
Furthermore, if a disorderly conduct offense is classified as a Felony, the penalties and punishments may be upgraded due to the more severe nature of the crime. For example, if an individual is caught reporting a bomb threat, a fire, or another serious threat that is not actually present, they may face felonious disorderly conduct charges.
Possible Defenses
If someone acted in self-defense, in observance of their first amendment rights, or did indeed conduct disorderly behavior but not in a public space, they may have a strong defense in court against related criminal charges. Disorderly conduct defense lawyers in Boca Raton have could consider the unique aspect of each case and identify how best to potentially contest such allegations.
Reaching Out to a Boca Raton Disorderly Conduct Attorney
If you or a loved one were charged with disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace, a skillful Boca Raton disorderly conduct lawyer could help assess the facts surrounding your case. Understanding what happened and the details that correspond with the incident could positively impact your defense against a disorderly conduct charge in Boca Raton. Protect your rights and obtain credible legal representation by calling Leifert & Leifert for a free case review.
