Colorado criminal charge
Disorderly conduct in Colorado
Disorderly conduct is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-9-106. Its classification is not fixed: Colorado assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by C.R.S. § 18-9-106.
What is the penalty for disorderly conduct in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (no statutory minimum) (Offensive utterance/noise — standard — Violation of (1)(a) or (1)(c) without intent to disrupt a funeral or cause severe emotional distress to a funeral attendee.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 300 usd (no statutory minimum) (Offensive utterance/noise — standard — Violation of (1)(a) or (1)(c) without intent to disrupt a funeral or cause severe emotional distress to a funeral attendee.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (Offensive utterance/noise — funeral disruption — Violation of (1)(a) or (1)(c) committed with intent to disrupt, impair, or interfere with a funeral, or to cause severe emotional distress to a person attending a funeral.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (Offensive utterance/noise — funeral disruption — Violation of (1)(a) or (1)(c) committed with intent to disrupt, impair, or interfere with a funeral, or to cause severe emotional distress to a person attending a funeral.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (no statutory minimum) (Fighting in public — Violation of (1)(d), fighting with another in a public place outside an athletic contest.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 300 usd (no statutory minimum) (Fighting in public — Violation of (1)(d), fighting with another in a public place outside an athletic contest.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (Simulated or represented firearm display — Violation of (1)(f), displaying a real or simulated firearm or claiming to be armed in a manner calculated to and does alarm another.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (Simulated or represented firearm display — Violation of (1)(f), displaying a real or simulated firearm or claiming to be armed in a manner calculated to and does alarm another.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (no statutory minimum) (Unlawful discharge of firearm — Violation of (1)(e), discharging a firearm in a public place outside lawful exceptions.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 1000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Unlawful discharge of firearm — Violation of (1)(e), discharging a firearm in a public place outside lawful exceptions.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is disorderly conduct classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive utterance/noise — standard | petty offense | Violation of (1)(a) or (1)(c) without intent to disrupt a funeral or cause severe emotional distress to a funeral attendee. | 18-9-106(3)(a) |
| Offensive utterance/noise — funeral disruption | class 2 misdemeanor | Violation of (1)(a) or (1)(c) committed with intent to disrupt, impair, or interfere with a funeral, or to cause severe emotional distress to a person attending a funeral. | 18-9-106(3)(a) |
| Fighting in public | petty offense | Violation of (1)(d), fighting with another in a public place outside an athletic contest. | 18-9-106(3)(b) |
| Simulated or represented firearm display | class 2 misdemeanor | Violation of (1)(f), displaying a real or simulated firearm or claiming to be armed in a manner calculated to and does alarm another. | 18-9-106(3)(c) |
| Unlawful discharge of firearm | class 1 misdemeanor | Violation of (1)(e), discharging a firearm in a public place outside lawful exceptions. | 18-9-106(3)(d) |
Common questions about disorderly conduct in Colorado
Is disorderly conduct a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: disorderly conduct ranges from a petty offense to a class 1 misdemeanor in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-9-106.
Offensive utterance/noise — standard: petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-9-106(3)(a)) · Offensive utterance/noise — funeral disruption: class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-106(3)(a)) · Fighting in public: petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-9-106(3)(b)) · Simulated or represented firearm display: class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-106(3)(c)) · Unlawful discharge of firearm: class 1 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-106(3)(d))
What are the penalties for disorderly conduct in Colorado?
Penalties for disorderly conduct in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a petty offense up to a class 1 misdemeanor — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 and C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers disorderly conduct?
Disorderly conduct is governed by C.R.S. § 18-9-106 (Disorderly conduct).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.