Disorderly Conduct Definition

Typically disorderly conduct makes it a crime to be drunk in public to disturb the peace or to loiter in certain areas.

Disorderly conduct definition. Find out more at findlaw s massachusetts criminal laws section. Massachusetts is a very unusual state when it comes to handling the crimes of disorderly conduct disturbing the peace indecent exposure and prostitution. Disorderly conduct is a crime in most jurisdictions in the united states china and taiwan. Legal definition of disorderly conduct.

Penalty for certain offenses section 53. The petty offense of engaging in disorderly conduct compare breach of the peace. Conduct that is likely to lead to a disturbance of the public peace or that offends public decency also. Unlike the offense of breach of the peace which originated under common law disorderly conduct is strictly a statutory crime.

Many types of unruly conduct may fit the definition of disorderly conduct as such statutes are often used as catch all crimes. Police may use a disorderly conduct charge to keep the peace when people are behaving in a disruptive manner to themselves or others but otherwise pr.