New Jersey criminal charge
Disorderly conduct in New Jersey
Disorderly conduct is a criminal offense under New Jersey law, defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2. Its classification is not fixed: New Jersey 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 N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2.
What is the penalty for disorderly conduct in New Jersey?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 30 days (Improper behavior — Applies when a person, with purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, engages in fighting, threatening, violent or tumultuous behavior, or creates a hazardous condition serving no legitimate purpose.; not a crime under the NJ Constitution (2C:1-4); municipal court) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 |
| Fine | up to $500 (Improper behavior — Applies when a person, with purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, engages in fighting, threatening, violent or tumultuous behavior, or creates a hazardous condition serving no legitimate purpose.) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 |
| Jail / prison | up to 30 days (Offensive language — Applies when a person, in a public place, addresses unreasonably loud and offensively coarse or abusive language to another with purpose to offend or in reckless disregard of doing so.; not a crime under the NJ Constitution (2C:1-4); municipal court) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 |
| Fine | up to $500 (Offensive language — Applies when a person, in a public place, addresses unreasonably loud and offensively coarse or abusive language to another with purpose to offend or in reckless disregard of doing so.) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 |
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Disturbance at a public gathering — Applies when a person acts with purpose to disrupt, or knowingly disrupts, a public gathering or event.; not a crime under the NJ Constitution (2C:1-4); municipal court) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Disturbance at a public gathering — Applies when a person acts with purpose to disrupt, or knowingly disrupts, a public gathering or event.) | discretionary | N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8 |
Applies to current.
How is disorderly conduct classified in New Jersey?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improper behavior | Petty Disorderly Persons Offense | Applies when a person, with purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, engages in fighting, threatening, violent or tumultuous behavior, or creates a hazardous condition serving no legitimate purpose. | N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2undefined |
| Offensive language | Petty Disorderly Persons Offense | Applies when a person, in a public place, addresses unreasonably loud and offensively coarse or abusive language to another with purpose to offend or in reckless disregard of doing so. | N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2undefined |
| Disturbance at a public gathering | Disorderly Persons Offense | Applies when a person acts with purpose to disrupt, or knowingly disrupts, a public gathering or event. | N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2undefined |
Common questions about disorderly conduct in New Jersey
Is disorderly conduct a crime in New Jersey?
It depends on the circumstances: disorderly conduct ranges from a Petty Disorderly Persons Offense to a Disorderly Persons Offense in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2.
Improper behavior: Petty Disorderly Persons Offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2) · Offensive language: Petty Disorderly Persons Offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2) · Disturbance at a public gathering: Disorderly Persons Offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2)
What are the penalties for disorderly conduct in New Jersey?
Penalties for disorderly conduct in New Jersey depend on how it is classified — from a Petty Disorderly Persons Offense up to a Disorderly Persons Offense — with the ranges set by N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which New Jersey statute covers disorderly conduct?
Disorderly conduct is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2 (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.