Disorderly conduct is not typically a violent offense; however, it could still raise flags of child abuse or neglect. Police officers are mandated reporters in the State of Connecticut and are mandated by law to report any suspected child abuse or neglect. If they respond to a domestic disturbance and your children are in the home or near where the incident happened, you could have DCF knocking at your door.
Child neglect is a broad term in Connecticut, defined by Connecticut General Statutes § 36b-120(4) to include children being denied proper care physically, educationally, emotionally, or morally. If the police feel as though your kids are around during domestic violence, they could very well call DCF.
Disorderly Conduct is a relatively low-level crime in Westport, Connecticut. It is only a “C Misdemeanor” which means you can face no more than 3 months in jail and a fine of up to $500.00 upon conviction. Don’t be fooled though, whenever a criminal record is a possibility, you should treat your case with the utmost diligence. Disorderly Conduct is no different.
Disorderly Conduct often occurs after altercations within the home in Connecticut. An argument that got too loud could easily lead to an arrest, and if the other person is your partner, spouse, or other family member your case could be classified as domestic violence. To learn more about first time Disorderly Conduct arrests in Connecticut, follow this link.
After a Disorderly Conduct arrest, you will be made to appear in a Connecticut Criminal Court the next business day for an arraignment. Within 24-48 hours of the incident, DCF could be showing up at your door to investigate. To learn more about the process of a DCF investigation, click here. An attorney can help guide you on how to interact with investigators, how to cooperate without potentially hurting your case, and what information to gather.
Depending on the facts of your case, an attorney can explain to DCF that your kids were asleep at the time of the alleged incident and had no clue what was going on. A lawyer can also help you on the criminal side of the case, working on clearing your record to show DCF that you are no danger to your children.
An arrest can be scary and confusing, but with the help of an attorney the uncertainty can be alleviated. You can read hundreds of 5-star reviews from past clients on Avvo.com by following this link, and give the lawyers at Mark Sherman Law today a call to learn how to fight a Westport DCF investigation after a disorderly conduct arrest.
