PL 215.50 · Article 215
Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree
Criminal contempt in the second degree is disobeying a lawful court order — most often an order of protection — or disruptive behavior in a courtroom, or refusing to be sworn or to testify as directed.
Has your loved one been arrested or taken into police custody?
Text us immediately · (845) 290-2492What the prosecutor must prove
- A lawful order or lawful direction applied to you.
- You knowingly disobeyed it or acted in the disruptive way the statute describes.
Defenses that commonly apply
- The order was never lawfully served on you.
- You did not know about the order and were not present when it issued.
- The contact was not voluntary or was not prohibited by the order's terms.
Penalties and collateral consequences
A Class A Misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of up to 364 days and a fine of up to Up to $1,000.
Service and knowledge of the order are the pivotal facts. Keep the papers you were given.
Every case turns on its own facts. The information on this page is general, not legal advice.
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