Legal Question in Criminal Law in Wisconsin

Defense of Disorderly Conduct Charge

Disorderly conduct, under WI state law, is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000.00 fine, so it is no casual matter. I do not know if you are charged under the state law or some municipal law, so I cannot help you much more except to tell you that you want to avoid getting a criminal record in a situation like this if at all possible. It is exceptionally easy for the government to prove disorderly conduct if anyone was either disturbed by the shouting or could have been disturbed by it. An experienced criminal attorney, however, can probably help you avoid a criminal record if you cooperate fully with him. If you really have a clean record and you attorney is able to present you in a sufficiently favorable light, the government's primary concern is likely to be whether or not you have taken steps to make sure that this does not happen again (rather than marking you with a criminal record). Such measures could include attending AA meetings, seeking out counseling for the alcohol problem (which the officer seemed to think you had when he gave you the ticket that night), or attending an anger management course. In these days of public conviction records online, potential employers can review your entire history with the court system with the click of a mouse. All them therefore usually check. Even if you have a minor conviction, someone with a totally clean record is likely to beat you out in the competition for almost any job, no matter how mundane. People with criminal records are rapidly becoming second class citizens in our society because of this, and often fin d themselves limited to miserable, low paying jobs.