The Law Office of Patrick T. Donovan

Massachusetts Criminal Attorney

617.479.1800 24/7
  • Home
  • Profile
  • Criminal Defense
    • Encore Boston Harbor Criminal Attorney
    • Drunk Driving
      • OUI DUI WINS
      • First Offense
      • How Much Does an OUI Cost?
      • CHILD ENDANGERMENT WHILE OUI
      • Sepcial DUI Issues Women
    • Harassment Orders
    • Restraining Orders
      • Restraining Orders FAQs
    • Domestic Violence
      • Domestic Violence Case Wins
      • Assault and Battery on Family or Household Member
      • Restraining Order Violation
      • Assault on Family Member
      • Witness Intimidation
      • Strangulation Suffocation
      • Stalking
      • Threats to Commit a Crime
      • Massachusetts Law About Hitting Your Kids
    • Motor Vehicle
      • Motor Vehicle Crime Case Wins
      • LEAVING THE SCENE OF PERSONAL INJURY
      • LEAVING THE SCENE OF PROPERTY DAMAGE
      • OPERATING AFTER LICENSE SUSPENDED
      • NEGLIGENT OPERATION
      • Reckless Operation
      • Uninsured Motor Vehicle
      • MASSACHUSETTS UNLICENSED OPERATION
      • Attaching Wrong Plates Massachusetts
      • Massachusetts Road Racing
      • Failure to Obey Police Officer
      • Use of Motor Vehicle Without Authority
      • IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE
    • Drug Crimes
    • Sex Crimes
      • Statutory Rape
      • OPEN AND GROSS LEWDNESS AND LASCIVIOUS BEHAVIOR
      • Indecent Assault and Battery
      • Indecent Exposure
      • Enticing a Child Under 16
    • Theft Crimes
      • Theft Crimes Wins
      • LARCENY UNDER $1200
      • Larceny Over $1200
      • LARCENY BY CHECK
      • Identity Fraud
      • Larceny By Embezzlement
      • Credit Card Fraud
      • Receiving Stolen Property
    • College Students
      • Fake ID
      • Fake ID Case Wins
      • Disorderly Conduct
      • MINOR IN POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL MASSACHUSETTS
      • Disturbing the Peace
    • Criminal Harassment
    • Violent Crime
      • Assault and Battery Wins
      • Threats
      • Aggravated Assault and Battery
      • Mayhem
      • Assault and Battery with A Dangerous Weapon
      • Assault and Battery
      • Assault
      • Resisting Arrest
    • Warrants
    • Weapons Crimes
    • Shoplifting
      • Shoplifting Case Wins
    • Clerk’s Hearings
    • Speeding Tickets
      • Massachusetts Surchargeable Infractions
      • Massachusetts Speeding Ticket Recent Victories
      • How to Appeal a Massachusetts Speeding Ticket
      • Massachusetts RMV and Board of Appeals
      • Massachusetts Speeding Tickets FAQ
      • Massachusetts Drivers Suspensions
  • Case Wins
  • Client Reviews
  • Contact Us

Disturbing the Peace

Disturbing the peace is a misdemeanor crime in Massachusetts. It is defined in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272 Chapter 53. The penalty for disturbing the peace in Massachusetts is a fine and a possible conviction on a criminal record. If a police officer sees someone disturbing the peace they may be arrested on the spot.

What is Disturbing the Peace?

If you have been charged with disturbing the peace in Massachusetts, the prosecutor must prove three elements. The first element the prosecutor must prove in order to convict someone of disturbing the peace in Massachusetts is that the person acted in an unreasonably disruptive way. The second element the prosecutor must prove is that the defendants acted intentionally. The last element requires the prosecutor to prove at least one person was annoyed or disturbed.

Acting in an unreasonably disruptive way could mean making loud noises, throwing objects into a crowded area, fighting, or asking others to fight are a few examples.

Using offensive language on its own is not a violation of Massachusetts Disturbing the Peace statute. However, if the language is not protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution it is a violation of the Disturbing the Peace law. Slander, and fighting words are two examples of language that is not protected under the First Amendment

Massachusetts Criminal Attorney for Disturbing the Peace

There are many legal defenses to disturbing the peace charges in Massachusetts. A Massachusetts criminal lawyer can argue many different defenses to help you defend yourself against this criminal charge.   

Massachusetts criminal attorney Patrick Donovan is a former Assistant District Attorney. Attorney Donovan has successfully helped many people fight their criminal charges including disturbing the peace.

Patrick Donovan is a Massachusetts criminal lawyer who uses his experience as a prosecutor to fight for the best possible results. Attorney Donovan has appeared in over fifty courts in Massachusetts. Call today for a free no-obligation consultation.

Just Arrested?

Everything you need to know if you were arrested in Massachusetts.

Learn More

Court Process

Everything you need to know about the Massachusetts Court Process

Learn More

Criminal Record

See how a criminal case impacts your criminal record.

Learn more

Practice Areas

  • Criminal Defense
  • Drunk Driving
  • Domestic Violence
  • Motor Vehicle
  • Drug Crimes
  • Sex Crimes
  • College Students
  • Disturbing the Peace
  • Criminal Harassment
  • Theft Crimes
  • Violent Crimes
  • Disorderly Conduct
  • Warrants
  • Record Sealing
  • Probation
  • Weapons Crimes
  • Magistrate Hearing
  • Personal Injury
  • Speeding Tickets

Menu

  • Criminal Defense
  • Attorney Profile
  • Drunk Driving
  • Domestic Violence
  • Motor Vehicle Crimes
  • Drug Crimes
  • Sex Crimes
  • Theft
  • Contact Us
  • Make a Payment

Office Location

Law Office of Patrick Donovan
Law Office of Patrick Donovan logo
234 Copeland Street Suite 230
Quincy, MA 02169
Phone: (617) 479-1800
Fax: (617) 622-1531

Court Information

Everything you need to know about criminal courts in Massachusetts.

Get Court Info

Copyright © 2021