Criminal contempt is a real offense that is punishable under law. If you are found in contempt of a public authority, such as a court or legislative party, you will need a lawyer to help you avoid the maximum penalties.

Criminal contempt is the act of intentionally disobeying or disregarding the rules, laws, and decorum of a public authority, namely courts and legislative parties. Such an offense differs from standard criminal infractions because it violates the misconduct of a court or legislative body’s regulations, rather than a penal or state law. However, the penalties can be quite similar. Furthermore, what constitutes criminal contempt varies from state to state.

Criminal Contempt Citations

There are numerous actions and non-actions that can lead to a citation of contempt. For instance, if a court has a “no food” rule, and someone continues to eat in the courtroom, a judge can find them in contempt of court if they do not comply upon an initial warning. Other common acts of contempt include violating a court order or bond condition, disrespecting the authority of court or court officials, and similar behaviors.

Common Penalties

As mentioned, what constitutes criminal contempt is not the same across the board, nor are the penalties. The possible penalties for a contempt citation depends on the local jurisdiction and the discretion of the presiding judge. In most cases, punishments generally include one or a combination of the following;

Jail Time – Offenders face possible jail time in a local county detention center, not a state or federal prison. The length of jail time can range anywhere from one day to 6 months, and in some cases, longer.

Fines – Fines vary depending on the type of offense and the local jurisdiction. Offenders have faced fines ranging from $50 to several thousand dollars.

Permanent Record – Offenders are at risk of having their contempt of court charges on their permanent record. This means it will show up on public background checks, allowing potential employers, landlords, banks, professional licensing associations, and the rest of the general public, access to the information.

Possible Defenses for Contempt of Court

Most states do not allow appeals for contempt of court charges since they are slighter offenses that are temporarily enforced and have lesser jail times. If a person is found in contempt of court, they have two options for obtaining relief from a judge’s order. They can either file a motion to reconsider or a Writ of Habeas Corpus. The latter is an allegation that the court ruling or judge’s order was excessive punishment or without good cause, and therefore, unlawful. In most cases, a defendant is responsible for obtaining private legal representation for criminal defense; however, some states will appoint a public counselor if the defendant is facing jail time.

An Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorney You Can Trust

Call David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law, at 317-636-7514 to get the aggressive Indianapolis criminal defense you need to avoid the maximum penalties for your contempt of court charge in Indiana. We offer free initial consultations to discuss your charges and the best strategies for defense. Don’t fall victim to the maximum penalties. Call David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law at 317-636-7514 to schedule a consultation, today.