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Almost every state in the United States has a disorderly conduct law that makes it a crime to be drunk in public, to "disturb the peace",
or to loiter in certain areas. 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 present no serious public danger. Disorderly conduct is typically classified as a misdemeanor.
If you are arrested for indecent exposure or a public sex act, you should not admit to anything before you have spoken with a knowledgeable attorney.
Nor should you plead guilty thinking that you can put the event behind you and move on. A conviction on these charges can have ramifications far
beyond the immediate charge, including damage to your career or your immigration status.
The best outcome is to obtain a dismissal of the charge. There may be numerous legal grounds on which a dismissal can be achieved,
and we will explore all of these possibilities. Depending on your circumstances, it may also be possible to negotiate a
reduced charge which does not carry the same social stigma as an indecent exposure or a lewd conduct charge, such as a charge of
disturbing the peace or disorderly conduct.
A man who has been arrested for these charges can quite naturally feel a sense of violation and injustice. But the societal and political issues
raised by your arrest must be resolved in a different place, at a different time. You need to focus on the immediate effect that the charge has
on your life
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