Wisconsin disorderly conduct laws provide police and other law enforcement agencies broad authority to arrest people for disorderly conduct. The general definition and types of behavior listed in Wisconsin statutes are provided below. For information about jail time and fines, please refer to penalties for disorderly conduct.

General Definition

Disorderly conduct is defined as any conduct that causes a disturbance or has the propensity to provoke or tendency to cause a disturbance. [Attorney Chris Van Wagner] [Attorney Tracey Wood] [Disorderly Conduct Charges] [Disorderly Conduct Penalties] [Submit Information For Advice] [Contact Us]

Types of Behavior

According to Wisconsin's disorderly conduct statute, the types of behavior that can be considered to be disorderly include: abusive, violent, indecent, profane, boisterous, or unreasonably loud behavior. However, any conduct that appears as though it may provide a disturbance is grounds for arrest. Whether conduct qualifies as disorderly is at the police officer's discretion.

Arrests In Public Place or Private Home

Under Wisconsin law, police can arrest a person for disorderly conduct in any public place, as well as any private place including one's home.

Disorder Conduct During Telephone Calls

Wisconsin's disorderly conduct laws also apply to telephone calls if the intent is to frighten, intimidate, threaten, abuse, or harass another person. Disorderly conduct also includes any calls in which the caller makes a threat to cause any type of injury or harm to another person or property.

Domestic Disorderly Conduct

A domestic disorderly conduct charge carries harsher penalties and can include more restrictions. A domestic disorderly conduct offense involves people that either currently have or previously had a domestic relationship including siblings, parents and siblings, husband and wife, girlfriend and boyfriend, or even roommates. Domestic charges can also be brought if the couple previously had a child together, currently have a common child, or if one of the persons is pregnant.

Criminal Defense Lawyers

Criminal defense lawyers Chris Van Wagner & Tracey Wood represent people who have been arrested for a disorderly conduct offense. They also represent people on criminal appeal who were previously convicted of a disorderly conduct charge and believe the conviction or sentence were wrong. [Attorney Chris Van Wagner] [Attorney Tracey Wood] [Disorderly Conduct Charges] [Disorderly Conduct Penalties] [Submit Information For Advice] [Contact Us]

Disorder Conduct Charges Frequently Charged

According to the Justice Department's reports for 2004, disorderly conduct and related charges of battery, domestic abuse, criminal harassment and knowingly violating a domestic abuse order or a restraining order were filed more frequently than the combination of theft, property, trespass, bail jumping, intimidating a victim and resisting or obstructing an officer crimes.

Victims of Disorderly Conduct

Disorderly conduct laws in Wisconsin do not require that a victim exists. A person can be charged with disorderly conduct for simply screaming in a parking lot, yelling swear words, or punching another person's car. In fact, any behavior or conduct that is perceived as being disorderly can become the grounds upon which police make an arrest.

Free Initial Consultation

Van Wagner & Wood is a criminal defense law firm. The criminal defense lawyers represent people accused of, arrested for, convicted of, or sentenced for criminal offenses. For a free initial consultation with a criminal defense attorney at Van Wagner & Wood, please call (1-866-262-4599) the office and ask to speak with an attorney right away. [Free Initial Consultation]
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