michigan criminal defense lawyers

What is Considered Disorderly Conduct?

Michigan Disorderly Conduct lawyers

Pursuant to Michigan statute MCL 750.167, disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor criminal charge. Disorderly conduct charges generally arise as a result of behavior deemed inappropriate, lewd, or offensive that negatively impacts others in a public space. Pursuant to statute, a person can be charged with disorderly conduct if they are:

• A person of sufficient ability who choses to neglect to support his or her family

• A common prostitute

• A window peeper

• A person who engages in an illegal occupation or business

• A person who is intoxicated in a public place and who is either endangering directly the safety of another person or of property or is acting in a manner that causes a public disturbance

• A person who is engaged in indecent or obscene conduct in a public place.

• A vagrant (homeless person)

• A person begging in a public place, such as a street corner or sidewalk

• A person found loitering in a house of ill fame or prostitution or place where prostitution or lewdness is practiced, encouraged, or allowed

• A person who knowingly loiters in or about a place where an illegal occupation or business is being conducted

• A person who loiters in or about a police station, police headquarters building, county jail, hospital, court building, or other public building or place for the purpose of soliciting employment of legal services or the services of sureties upon criminal recognizances

• A person who is found jostling or roughly crowding people unnecessarily in a public place

Most disorderly conduct charges arise as a result of intoxication. Public intoxication alone is not a crime, however, being publicly intoxicated while either endangering people or property or while causing a public disturbance, can result in being arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. The prohibited conduct described by the statute is subject to interpretation, so a disorderly conduct charge can result from an improper interpretation of the law by police.

what are the consequences of a disorderly conduct conviction?

Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor criminal charge and a conviction will appear on your criminal record. Additionally, disorderly conduct frequently results in an arrest, so there is the added embarrassment of jail time and the potential for additional jail time at sentencing. Disorderly conduct penalties can include:

• Jail Time: Up to 90 days in jail.

• Fines: Penalties may include fines of up to $500.

• Probation: Courts may impose a term of probation which may include conditions such as monthly probation appointments, drug and alcohol testing, community service and counseling.

• A Conviction on Your Record.

• Damage to Your Reputation.

experienced disorderly conduct defense attorneys

If you have been charged with disorderly conduct, it is important to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to achieve the best possible result. We may be able to negotiate a reduced charge or keep the conviction of your criminal record. It may also be possible to defend the charge at trial.

The criminal defense attorneys at Jeffrey Buehner, PLLC are skilled trial lawyers who have appeared in courtrooms throughout Michigan. We know how to defend disorderly conduct charges and how to negotiate solutions that minimize the impact of a disorderly conduct charge on a client’s life. Our attorneys will fight to keep your record clean and keep you out of jail. If you are looking for the best criminal attorneys for your disorderly conduct charge, call Jeffrey Buehner, PLLC for a free consultation at (248) 865-9640 now or fill out our contact form below.