If you were charged with Disorderly Conduct in Pennsylvania, you may be wondering what penalties you face, how it may impact your future, and if you can dispute your charges.
When found guilty of disorderly conduct, the crime remains on your permanent record and can create more issues for you in the future – including difficulty obtaining a job, getting loans, college admissions, and even renting an apartment.
An experienced criminal defense attorney can help you fight the charges to have them reduced or withdrawn. An attorney can go over the details of your case and offer recommendations for proceeding, giving you the best chance at keeping your record clean.
At Shrager Defense Attorneys we know that good people make mistakes they often regret, but still their liberties and freedom can disappear in the blink of an eye. That is why we are here to help you understand your rights and how to defend them.
Our Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyers will work aggressively to fight for your rights. We will closely investigate your disorderly conduct case and speak with any possible witnesses to work toward getting the best possible outcome for your case.
What Qualifies as Disorderly Conduct Charges?
Pennsylvania laws are designed to prevent people from intentionally angering, annoying or upsetting others in public. So, while people have many behaviors that could annoy or anger those around them, the purpose of disorderly conduct laws are not to prevent ANY or ALL upsetting conduct – only those actions that are carried out with the intent to irritate and cause disruption.
Specifically, Title 18 §5503 of the PA Consolidated Statute states disorderly conduct as:
A person is guilty of disorderly conduct if, with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he:
- engages in fighting or threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior;
- makes unreasonable noise;
- uses obscene language, or makes an obscene gesture; or
- creates a hazardous or physically offensive condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose of the actor.
The law makes it clear that the word public means:
- Affecting or likely to affect persons in a place to which the public or a substantial group has access; among the places included are highways, transport facilities, schools, prisons, apartment houses, places of business or amusement, any neighborhood, or any premises which are open to the public.
The law is not specific in the types of actions or conduct that can be considered disorderly – only that which disrupts the normal peace and quiet of a public place or neighborhood. But the prosecution must be able to show that the defendant’s conduct was done with the intention of causing trouble or recklessly creating the risk of same.
You do not have to be a threat to anyone in order to be charged with disorderly conduct. In addition, disorderly conduct can be combined with any other offenses a person may commit at the same time. For example, if a person gets into a fight on the sidewalk and hits another person or creates the fear of injury, they can also be charged with assault.
Disorderly Conduct Sentencing in Pennsylvania
There are varying degrees of punishment for the crime of disorderly conduct if you are found guilty. The punishment relates to the severity of the harm caused by the conduct.
If the intent is to cause substantial harm or serious inconvenience, or if a person persists in disorderly conduct after reasonable warning or request to desist, he or she is guilty of misdemeanor of the third degree.
Any other disorderly conduct not fitting the description above is a summary offense.
The punishment for Disorderly Conduct in the third degree misdemeanor includes:
- Up to one (1) year in jail
- Up to $500 in fines
The punishment for Disorderly Conduct as a summary offense includes:
- Up to ninety (90) days in jail
- Up to $300 in fines
Many people think it is easier to pay the citation fine for disorderly conduct and put the matter behind them. What they do not realize is that the pleading guilty and paying the citation fine allows that crime to become part of your criminal record.
Your future and reputation are worth the fight.
An experienced defense attorney can analyze your case and give you the best chance of beating your charges. It costs you nothing for a consult that may protect your good name.
A skilled attorney will pull every stop to fight for your rights. Call or text Attorney David J. Shrager today for a free consultation – 412-969-2540.
Shrager Defense Attorneys in Pittsburgh, PA will attack your criminal charges in order to protect your good name. Have a sound and solid case prepared by our legal team so they can fight for your rights.
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