Michigan Disorderly Conduct Attorneys

Facing Disorderly Conduct Charges in Michigan? Our Attorneys Can Help

Without the right legal help, you may face life-changing consequences from disorderly conduct charges in Michigan such as jail time, fines, probation, and a criminal record that impacts your future.

The disorderly conduct attorneys at Gentry Nalley work tirelessly to help clients like you avoid these outcomes. As a result, our attorneys have successfully helped countless clients facing disorderly conduct allegations involving:

Public arguments or disturbances
Bar, restaurant, event, or airport incidents
Public intoxication allegations
Fighting or threatening conduct
Loitering-related allegations
Indecent or lewd conduct allegations
Disorderly conduct charged under local ordinances
Disorderly conduct connected to other criminal charges
First-time misdemeanor charges
Felony-level disorderly conduct allegations

Let us explain the most important aspects of these crimes, including which prohibited behaviors are considered disorderly conduct, what the punishments can be, and what to do if you’re charged.

We’ll also outline what steps our attorneys take with the goal of reducing your penalties or even having your charges dismissed altogether.

Help Understanding Disorderly Conduct in Michigan

The disorderly conduct lawyers at Gentry Nalley are ready to begin mounting a tailored defense based on your unique case.

But before this process can begin, we first want to make sure potential clients like you understand what these charges mean and how they can affect you.

In Michigan, any action or conduct that disrupts the public’s peace, convenience, or safety may be classified as disorderly conduct.

The courts often look to MCL 750.167 as the primary statute governing these offenses. The law is intentionally broad to allow authorities to address a wide range of disruptive behaviors, including those that do not involve direct physical violence.

Thus, a disorderly conduct charge can come from a wide variety of acts. They can include everything from loud, threatening arguments in public all the way to physically violent confrontations.

Other seemingly minor behaviors can sometimes meet the threshold for disorderly conduct, such as persistent loud disputes, public nudity, or provocative gestures.

As a result, disorderly conduct is not only about harm to individuals but also about maintaining the overall safety and tranquility of public spaces.

If you’ve been charged with disorderly conduct, our defense attorneys at Gentry Nalley are ready to provide the legal guidance you need.

Behaviors that Can Be Classified as Disorderly Conduct

To help you better understand disorderly conduct in Michigan, our attorneys have outlined a number of the most common acts that often fall under the legal definition under MCL 750.167.

These common acts include:

Fighting or Violent Behavior in Public
Engaging in physical altercations in public spaces is a common basis for disorderly conduct charges in Michigan.

Threatening or Obscene Behavior
Threats, aggressive gestures, or conduct that creates or escalates a public disturbance may lead to a disorderly conduct charge.
Additionally, public intoxication that involves endangering the safety or property of another person or that causes a public disturbance is also disorderly conduct.

Public Disturbances or Noise
Causing unreasonable noise or commotion that disturbs public order can qualify as disorderly conduct.

Interference with Law Enforcement
Interfering with police officers or emergency responders while they perform duties may lead to disorderly conduct charges, along with separate criminal charges such as resisting or obstructing authorized persons.

Loitering or Unlawful Assembly
Gathering in a way that’s intended to provoke fear or incite violence may be considered disorderly conduct.
A person who knowingly loiters in or about a place where an illegal occupation or business is being conducted can also be considered a disorderly person in Michigan.

However, there are other acts that may be treated as disorderly conduct in Michigan, even though they are less common than the acts listed above.

These less-common acts include:

Indecent or Lewd Behavior in Public
Public nudity, lewd gestures, or sexual acts visible to others can lead to disorderly conduct charges.

Additionally, begging in a public place and window peeping are also specifically named as disorderly conduct under Michigan law. Public urination may also be included.

Acts Involving Prostitution
A prostitute can be classified as a disorderly person in Michigan, as is someone found loitering in a house of prostitution or place where prostitution or lewdness is practiced, encouraged, or allowed.

Neglecting Support of Family
An able-bodied person who refuses or neglects to support their family can be found to be a disorderly person under Michigan law.

Offenses at Funerals
Michigan law is especially severe when it comes to disorderly conduct involving funerals.
As described in MCL 750.167d, those who disrupt a funeral by threatening, intimidating, or harassing those attending a funeral may face felony charges.
This includes the various parts of a funeral, such as the memorial service, viewing, burial, or procession.

If you need help understanding or fighting your disorderly conduct charges, contact the defense attorneys at Gentry Nalley today.

Penalties and Consequences for Disorderly Conduct

Our disorderly conduct attorneys want to help minimize or even eliminate the penalties you may be facing with your disorderly conduct charges under Michigan law, including those found under MCL 750.168.

Potential penalties for general misdemeanor disorderly conduct offenses include:

Jail Time
Those convicted of misdemeanor disorderly conduct may face up to 90 days in jail for a first-time offense.

Fines
Maximum fines of up to $500 may be imposed for misdemeanors.

Probation
Courts may order probation with additional conditions imposed, such as community service, anger management classes, or counseling.

Permanent Criminal Record
Even a misdemeanor conviction can remain on your criminal record, potentially impacting employment, housing, and education.

However, other disorderly conduct charges go beyond being classified as a misdemeanor and are a felony under MCL 750.167d.

This statute prohibits disruptive, harassing, or intimidating conduct within 500 feet of a funeral, memorial service, viewing, procession, or burial.

Penalties for these actions can include:

Prison Sentence
In Michigan, those convicted of disorderly conduct that is classified as a felony may face up to two years in prison.

Higher Fines
Felony disorderly conduct convictions can result in fines of up to $5,000. These fines may even double for subsequent convictions.

Probation and Restitution
Courts may impose additional requirements, such as extended probation or restitution to affected parties as punishment for felony disorderly conduct.

However, penalties for disorderly conduct in Michigan go beyond what is issued from the courts. Our attorneys have found that even a first-time misdemeanor conviction can carry long-term consequences due to criminal records that can affect the rest of a person’s life.

Potential consequences of having a disorderly conduct conviction include:

Professional Licensing Issues
For those in regulated professions such as law, healthcare, education, a disorderly conduct conviction may trigger licensing reviews or even denials.

Travel Restrictions
While disorderly conduct is generally a state offense, some convictions can affect international travel or visa applications.

Impact on Firearm Rights
Under MCL 750.224f, being convicted of a disorderly conduct act that’s classified as a felony may result in that person being restricted from owning a firearm.

Housing, Employment, and Government Benefit Issues
When a person’s record reveals they have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, this can potentially cause applications for housing, employment, and government benefits to be denied.

Recognizing everything you may be facing with a disorderly conduct conviction, it’s essential to get experienced legal help to defend your record and your future from being marred by a conviction.

How Our Attorneys Can Help if You Have Been Charged with Disorderly Conduct

If you’ve been charged with disorderly conduct in Michigan, the defense attorneys at Gentry Nalley are ready to step in and provide the aggressive defense you need throughout the legal process.

Here’s what you will likely face and how we’ll help you:

Arrest or Citation
In many cases, law enforcement may either issue a citation or make an arrest.
If you are arrested, you will likely be booked and fingerprinted, and also may be held in custody until bail is posted.
In other cases, law enforcement may issue you a citation to appear in court.
In either case, contacting our attorneys immediately allows us to begin creating your defense, along with advising you on what to do and what to avoid to improve your outcome.

Initial Court Appearance (Arraignment)
Once in the court system, you will have an initial appearance, known as an arraignment.
At this stage, the charges are formally read, and you may enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Our attorneys can help you handle this step, including what to plead and why.

Pretrial Proceedings
Following your arraignment, pretrial proceedings typically take place.
These proceedings include a discovery stage, where our defense attorneys can request evidence and police reports, allowing us to examine potential opportunities to find weaknesses, inconsistencies, or challenge improper procedures.
Our defense lawyers may also file motions to dismiss charges or suppress evidence obtained unlawfully.

Trial or Plea Negotiation
Many cases resolve through plea agreements, which may result in reduced charges or penalties.
However, some cases proceed to trial, where the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you as the defendant engaged in behavior meeting the definition of disorderly conduct under MCL 750.167.
Again, our defense attorneys are ready to challenge the prosecution’s case against you via a tailored defense strategy that has been carefully prepared for you. This can include challenging whether the charge is legally supported, whether the police overcharged the incident, whether the facts fit the statute or local ordinance, or whether evidence can be challenged.

Sentencing
If you are convicted, your sentencing takes into account any prior criminal history, the nature of the offense, and any mitigating circumstances.
Michigan judges also have discretion to impose a range of additional penalties, from fines and probation to short-term incarceration.
It’s important to note that first-time offenders may have opportunities for diversion programs or reduced sentences, depending on the court and county in which you live.
If you are convicted, our attorneys can still advocate for reduced sentencing, favorable probation terms, and, when legally appropriate, post-conviction or appellate options.

Clearly, having an effective defense attorney plays a major part in the outcome of the legal process surrounding your disorderly conduct charges.

For over four decades, the attorneys at Gentry Nalley have helped countless individuals like you get their charges reduced or even dismissed.

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What to Do if You’re Charged with Disorderly Conduct

If you face a disorderly conduct charge in Michigan, it’s essential to take the right steps. The defense attorneys at Gentry Nalley have outlined what to do if you’re in this situation:

Hire an Experienced Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney
Having our defense attorneys working on your case is the first and most important step you can take to improve your outcome.
With over 40 years of experience, our defense attorneys know how the criminal justice system works, how to analyze the case and examine the evidence, anticipate what the prosecution will likely say about your case, negotiate with prosecutors, and zealously defend you in court.

Document the Incident
The outcome of your case may depend on clear documentation that supports your defense or contradicts the prosecution’s evidence.
Therefore, it is important to gather witness statements, videos, photographs, and other evidence as soon as possible before memories fade or evidence is lost.
Doing this allows our attorneys to create a compelling defense strategy that improves the likelihood of a reduction or even dismissal of your charges.

Understand Your Rights
In order to not incriminate yourself or make other mistakes that can hurt you, you may choose to exercise your right to remain silent.
Additionally, exercising your right to legal counsel allows you to obtain guidance from our attorneys who can use Michigan law to your advantage.

Avoid Self-Incrimination
While you may be shocked to be charged with a crime, it’s important not to discuss the case publicly or on social media, since even casual statements can be used as evidence against you.

Consider Diversion Programs
Some Michigan courts offer diversion or community service programs that can result in dismissal of charges for first-time offenders.
These programs may include community service, counseling, or other measures that, if completed successfully, can result in the dismissal of charges against you.
However, eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Our attorneys can help you identify and participate in these programs in order to maintain a clean criminal record.

If you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor, let our skilled attorneys get to work on your case. We’ll help you avoid making mistakes while building a strong legal defense.

When a Disorderly Conduct is Charged Under a Local Ordinance

While the above information has been provided to help those charged with disorderly conduct under Michigan state law, this may not entirely apply to your case if you have been charged under a local ordinance.

Instead, you may be facing your local city or town’s ordinances on disorderly conduct, depending on where the alleged conduct occurred and how the police or prosecutor file the case.

Here’s how they may differ:

Punishment and Criminal Record
Depending on the ordinance, the charge may be treated as a misdemeanor or, in some cases, a civil infraction. The possible penalties, fines, and record consequences depend on the local ordinance and how the case is filed. Thus, the penalties and fines you face for disorderly conduct may be unique.
Additionally, convictions for local ordinance violations do not always get reported to the Michigan State Police database in the same way state statute convictions do.
As a result, if the local charge is classified as a civil infraction, it functions more like a traffic ticket and will not result in a criminal record.

Court Jurisdiction and Defense
Because a disorderly conduct charge will likely be handled by a district court and prosecuted by a city attorney, township attorney, or local prosecutor, your defense strategy may be different.
This is because these crimes are tied to local codes, providing judges and city attorneys with wider discretion.
This may cause prosecutors to be more inclined to offer diversion programs, such as deferred sentencing or dismissing the ticket upon completion of community service.

Because local ordinance cases vary by city, an attorney who understands local courts may be able to identify options that are not obvious from the ticket or complaint itself.

Our disorderly conduct attorneys know how to defend charges filed under Michigan city or township ordinances. Let us bring the same preparation, attention, and defense strategy to your local disorderly conduct case.

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The Importance of Hiring a Michigan Disorderly Conduct Lawyer

Disorderly conduct charges in Michigan can carry significant legal and personal consequences, even when the offense may seem minor.

To avoid these negative outcomes, choose the knowledgeable disorderly conduct lawyers at Gentry Nalley.

We’ll review the law, examine what actually happened, and build a defense strategy designed to protect your rights, your record, and your future.

Disorderly Conduct Attorneys With Experience

Facing a disorderly conduct charge requires careful attention, documentation, and zealous legal representation.

Our disorderly conduct attorneys at Gentry Nalley will use our four decades of legal experience to ensure your case is handled with the preparation and attention it deserves, from careful preparation and attention to detail all the way to defending you before a judge or prosecutor, and beyond.

Contact our Michigan Disorderly Conduct Attorneys

If you’re facing disorderly conduct charges, the attorneys at Gentry Nalley are ready to handle everything for you.

We’ll meticulously review what happened, identify weaknesses in your charges, and pursue options that may help reduce the charge, avoid penalties, and keep a conviction off your record.