South Brunswick Disorderly Conduct Attorney

If you or someone you know has been accused of disorderly conduct in South Brunswick, you need to understand your rights and the potential penalties that could apply in your case. Our local South Brunswick NJ attorneys can help you learn more about what it means to be charged with disorderly conduct and what to do next when you’ve been accused. We are also available to provide you with a free consultation anytime. Simply contact us online or call (732) 659-9600 to get personalized assistance and discuss defense for your disorderly conduct case in South Brunswick.

South Brunswick NJ is known as an area with good schools and relatively low crime. Nevertheless, with more than 43,000 people living in this township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, there’s always the possibility that you or someone you know could be accused of disorderly conduct. In the following sections, you’ll discover more about the situations that could lead to disorderly conduct allegations, how this offense is graded and punished, and where your case will be heard and decided.

Facing South Brunswick Disorderly Conduct Charges

The South Brunswick Police Department is responsible for determining whether a conflict or argument is raised to the level of a disorderly conduct offense. An argument that escalates in a public place, during a sporting event, or with a police officer could all give way to a disorderly conduct charge in South Brunswick. The essence of this criminal offense is a claim that the person accused was causing a public disturbance or threatening public peace.

Even though disorderly conduct is a petty disorderly persons offense, which other states could describe as a petty misdemeanor, it can still create a criminal record upon conviction for the accused. Per N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2, there are two primary ways for a person to violate the disorderly conduct law: improper public behavior and offensive language that has the potential to cause disturbance to the public.

Improper behavior in public involves claims of violent, fighting, threatening, or tumultuous behavior or situations in which a person allegedly creates a physically dangerous or hazardous condition that does not serve any reasonable purpose. A common allegation under this improper behavior claim includes arguing with another person in a public place in a manner that disturbs the peace of others in the same area or establishment.

With regard to offensive language, words can constitute a violation of NJ disorderly conduct law in South Brunswick if they are considered so abusive, course, or unreasonably loud so as to offend members of the public in the vicinity. How the case proceeds depends upon the specifics of this claim with regard to the grading of the offense and the consequences that follow.

What Degree is a South Brunswick Disorderly Conduct Offense?

If a disorderly conduct charge is associated with improper behavior, the state has to bear the burden of proof with regard to the defendant’s intent to create a risk of public alarm, annoyance, or inconvenience in a public location. Public is typically considered as places of business, highways, schools, neighborhoods, and apartment homes.

Disorderly conduct is a petty disorderly persons offense with up to $500 in fines and as many as 30 days in Middlesex County Jail. Other penalties might be required such as restitution, especially if the accused party allegedly damaged property that must be repaired or replaced.

A common mistake for many people accused of disorderly conduct is to believe that because this is considered a relatively less severe crime, that they should plead guilty. Most people end up confused because individual towns and boroughs have their own disorderly persons ordinances, in addition to the criminal offense of disorderly conduct. For example, South Brunswick has its own Disorderly Conduct Ordinance, explained in section 78-31. – Disorderly conduct of the South Brunswick Township Code of Ordinances. However, it is another matter altogether to be accused of the criminal offense of disorderly conduct, as this could lead to the creation of a criminal record that follows the convicted party for years.

Where South Brunswick NJ Disorderly Conduct Cases are Heard

Allegations of disorderly conduct in South Brunswick NJ are eventually handled at the South Brunswick Municipal Court. Court sessions are held at this location on every Thursday between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM, the 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM, and the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesday at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. This court is located in the Municipal Building at 540 Ridge Road in Monmouth Junction, NJ.

Who Can Help with a Disorderly Conduct Charge in South Brunswick NJ?

If you or another person you know has recently been charged with disorderly conduct in South Brunswick Township, it is imperative to speak with an experienced South Brunswick NJ criminal defense lawyer as soon as you can. Prompt intervention from a skilled attorney can assist you with better understanding the process and the options available to you. Contact us at (732) 659-9600 to discuss your South Brunswick disorderly conduct case free of charge.