Disorderly Conduct

Disorderly conduct: Texas Criminal Laws and Penalties


Unlike most misdemeanor offenses, a police officer can arrest you on a disorderly conduct charge, even if the officer didn’t see the incident, as long as you are found in a “suspicious place and under circumstances which reasonably show” that you committed the offense.

The disorderly conduct law in Texas covers a broad range of offenses, and the definitions are somewhat open to interpretation, so it is not unusual for police to use it as an all-purpose charge when they feel a person is being disruptive or disrespectful.

Texas Disorderly conduct Offenses







6. Get into a fight with another person.




As you can see, the criminal charge of disorderly conduct can be applied to almost any situation in which you get into a disagreement with another person, and in many social settings. For example, if you get into a tussle with another guy at a bar, or have a loud party at your home, you could end up charged.

Punishments for disorderly conduct in Texas



However, there are several defenses to disorderly conduct, which we can present for you if you choose to fight the criminal charges. Depending on the circumstances of the incident, we may be able to argue either that you did not commit the act, or that:

l You did not use fighting words even if your language included profanity or vulgar terms.

l You had “significant provocation” for you to threaten or verbally abuse the other person, an affirmative defense specifically allowed for in the disorderly conduct statute.

l You had a reasonable fear for your own safety, or the safety of another person when you got into a fight, fired a gun, or displayed a gun.

l Or, that you did not act with lewd intent if charged with peeping, or were not aware people could see you, if charged with exposing yourself.

Whatever the case, there’s a good chance we can help protect you from a criminal charge of disorderly conduct in Texas.

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