What Are the Consequences for Disorderly Conduct in Wisconsin?

 Posted on March 31, 2020 in Criminal Law

One of the most commonly charged crimes in the state of Wisconsin is disorderly conduct. This can include a variety of behaviors ranging from public intoxication to yelling at a police officer. The crime of disorderly conduct is often referred to as a “catch-all” crime, meaning it can be applied to a wide range of behaviors and actions. Even though it may seem like a minor offense, being charged with disorderly conduct is still a crime that can result in significant consequences. If you have been charged with disorderly conduct in Wisconsin, it is imperative that you consult with a skilled criminal defense lawyer to understand your options.

What Is Disorderly Conduct?

According to Wisconsin statutes, disorderly conduct occurs when a person “engages in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud, or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance.” Basically, this means you can be charged with a crime if you act in such a way as to provoke or disturb someone in particular or the public in general.

Further, Wisconsin classifies disorderly conduct as either “public” or “domestic” depending on the audience of the conduct. A domestic disorderly conduct situation occurs when the behavior was directed toward those with a family or household relationship with the defendant. This means the complainant was a family member, spouse, roommate, or other domestic relation to the defendant.

Examples of Disorderly Conduct

The disorderly conduct statute in Wisconsin is rather vague. This means the law can apply to a variety of behaviors as determined by people present at the scene, the police officer, and the court. Examples of behaviors that could be considered disorderly conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Yelling at or arguing with a police officer

• Becoming intoxicated in public and disturbing others around you

• Physically fighting with a person

• Engaging in a screaming match with your spouse, causing neighbors to alert police

• Becoming disruptive during a protest

Consequences of a Disorderly Conduct Conviction

In Wisconsin, disorderly conduct can either be a citation or a criminal charge. If you receive a citation for disorderly conduct, this means you are not actually charged with a crime, but you are issued a ticket and a fine for your behavior.

If your disorderly conduct behavior is deemed serious enough for criminal charges, you will most likely be charged with a Class B misdemeanor. In Wisconsin, a Class B misdemeanor carries up to 90 days in prison, up to $1,000 in fines, or a combination of both.

Contact a Brookfield Criminal Defense Attorney 

Even though it may seem like a trivial charge, you should take disorderly conduct charges seriously. Being convicted of disorderly conduct could mean you end up facing both jail time and expensive fines. If you have been charged with disorderly conduct in Wisconsin, you should immediately contact a knowledgeable Muskego disorderly conduct defense lawyer. At Bucher, Wolff & Sonderhouse, LLP, we can help you determine your best course of action when it comes to dealing with your charges. Call our office today at 262-232-6699 to schedule a free consultation.

Source:

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/947/01