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joekar · Sep 14, 2007, 05:52 PM

Hi. I am an 18 year old and I am a perminant resident here in the united states. I live in New York. Couple of days ago, I was caught stealing $39 dollars worth of clothing from Macys, and they called the police on me. I paied the fine I was supposed to pay to MAcys, and I was taken into the bookings. I spent the night there, and I was fingerprinted and they took pictures and everything. This is my first time in trouble with the law, as in I was never arrested, nothing. The judge told me I had to complete this shoplifting program and after 6 months, my case would be dropped (?) The free lawyers at the bookings said I do have an arrest record, but I can say no when applications ask if I have been ever convicted of a crime. Anybody can help me out with this? I current attend the Honors College at CUNY and I have a future ahead of me... I cannot let some stupid thing like this get in my away. Will it really affect my career a lot? Thanks a lot guys.

letmetellu · Sep 14, 2007, 06:57 PM

Some people will see you record and others won't, I am sure that it will be the better jobs that you might miss out on. I hope you understand that you were very stupid, there is never any need to steal, there are to many places that will help you if you really need the help.
If you do get a good job go out of your way to show them just how honest you are and how good of a worker you are. Good luck.

joekar · Sep 14, 2007, 07:03 PM

Oh... so I will never get the best job because of this? The DA said my case would be dropped after 6 months? What does that mean? Wow I really f**ked myself over didn't I. is there a point of doing well in college now

excon · Sep 15, 2007, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by joekar

is there a point of doing well in college now

Hello joe:

There's a point.

excon

ScottGem · Sep 15, 2007, 06:16 AM

I'm not clear what your question is. Are you asking if the information you were given is accurate? If so, it was. As to affecting your career, it unlikely it will depending on what career you are going for.

You have not been convicted of a crime and, if you go through the program and behave, you won't have a conviction on your record. Most background checks only look for convictions, not arrests.

joekar · Sep 15, 2007, 06:34 AM

I was asking if this is going to affect my career in business. I want to major in marketing and this I'm afraid this sh!t is going to prevent me from getting good jobs. How do you know I haven't been convicted of a crime? If I am arrested and see the judge and everything, doesn't that mean I have a criminal record and thus is a criminal? This whole thing confuses me >:[

ScottGem · Sep 15, 2007, 06:42 AM

First time offenders especially for petty crimes like this one are often given a break. From what you have told us and what was told to you, you were referred to a diversion program. Once you complete the program the charges are dropped. That's what you were told, why aren't you believing what you were told?

Charges can't be dropped if a conviction was entered. A conviction exists only if you plead guilty before a judge who then passes sentence or if a jury enters a guilty verdict. Simply being arrested and appearing before an arraignhment judge (which is the procedure in NY) does not mean a conviction.

But again, this is what you were told. You said a judge told you if you complete the program your case would be dropped. You said the legal aid attorneys told you that you can answer No if asked if you have been convicted. So why do you think otherwise?