Disorderly Persons Attorney NJ – Disorderly Persons Offenses NJ 2C:52-3

“Being arrested for a disorderly persons offense means you have been charged with a criminal misdemeanor. The most important thing to know is that it will show up on a background check if you’re convicted.”

Disorderly Persons Arrest NJ

As a criminal defense attorney in New Jersey, I handle disorderly persons offenses on a regular basis. These charges are straight forward, and are not difficult to handle in the courtroom. If you or a loved one has been charged with a disorderly persons offense in New Jersey, I’m sure you have a few questions.  The most common are the following:

Am I going to jail?

If you have no prior record, in most cases the answer is no. On a disorderly persons offense, you are facing a maximum of six (6) months in the county jail. However, if you have no prior record, there is a presumption of non-incarceration.

This means that it is presumed you will not receive a jail sentence based on your lack of prior record. If you do have a prior record, on the other hand, you could very well be facing jail time.

Is a disorderly persons offense a criminal offense?

Yes. It’s like a misdemeanor. If you are convicted of a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense, it will show up on your permanent record. This means that, if an employer or school runs a background check on you, this offense will appear on your criminal record. Some of the most common disorderly persons offenses in New Jersey include:

• Possession of Marijuana (under 50 grams)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Harassment
• Simple Assault
• Disorderly Conduct
• Possession of a Fake ID
• Underage Possession of Alcohol
• Shoplifting (in an amount less than $200)

Where will this charge be handled?

The case will be tried in the local municipal court in the municipality in which you were charged. For example, if you are charged with disorderly conduct in Morristown, New Jersey, this charge will be handled in the Morristown Municipal Court.

Is it possible to expunge these charges if I am convicted?

Yes, it is a five (5) year waiting period and you can apply to have this charge expunged. However, if you have other things on your record you may not be eligible for an expungement.

What type of fine am I facing on a disorderly persons offense?

Typically, $1,000.00. On a petty disorderly persons offense, $500.00.

Are there ways to fight or beat my case?

Yes, there are ways that you can fight almost any criminal charge. Disorderly Persons offenses could apply to drug charges, disorderly conduct, or a number of other charges. You can look through the Strategy Videos we provide to find a defense method for a specific charge type, or take a look through our Top 5 Ways To Beat A Criminal Charge for some methods that can work in any case. Our experienced criminal lawyers may be able to get the charges dismissed entirely, get you into a diversionary program like a conditional discharge so you can avoid a record, or negotiate a downgrade so you plead guilty to something non-criminal and preserve your record.

What’s the difference between a disorderly persons offense and a municipal ordinance violation? 

One typical downgrade for a disorderly persons offense is an amendment to a municipal ordinance violation. This makes a criminal disorderly persons offense a non-criminal municipal ordinance violation.

Let me give you an example. I often represent clients charged with disorderly conduct for alcohol related incidents in Morristown, Hoboken, Belmar, Seaside Heights, Manasquan etc. where there is a significant bar scene. They are given a criminal complaint for disorderly conduct, a disorderly persons offense.

If they are convicted of this charge, they will have a permanent criminal charge on their record (subject to expungement in some cases after five (5) years). I am often able to negotiate a downgrade of the disorderly conduct charge to a noise violation, a municipal ordinance violation. This results in a fine and no criminal record. It’s on the level of a littering ticket. It would be similar to having a party at your house and having too many people over and your neighbor’s call the police and the police write you a ticket for a noise violation. This is crucial for my clients who are able to pay a fine and avoid a criminal charge on their record.

Get Help with Your Disorderly Persons Case in New Jersey

If you want to know more about disorderly persons offenses in New Jersey, our lawyers are here to help. We regularly defend clients charged with disorderly persons offenses in Paramus, Parsippany, Hoboken, Morristown, Far Hills, New Brunswick, East Rutherford, Newark, and throughout NJ. Before you decide what to do next, call us at (201)-556-1570 to speak with an experienced attorney. We are more than happy to answer your questions about a disorderly persons summons and the consultation is always free.