Misdemeanor charge and grad school

jfreshholmes · 07-15-2009, 02:07 AM

I'm 20 years old and I recently got charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. I didn't actually have any marijuana on me but a friend's bowl with some ash in it which in my state counts as possession. Anyway, as it is my first offense it is likely that I will have a 6 month probation and then the charges will be dismissed. My question mainly pertains to business school. From the limited number of b-school apps that I have seen, they don't really ask about criminal charges and when they do it is only if you have been convicted, which I most likely wont have done to me. Do you think I am in the clear then? I know some law school apps ask if you've been charged so that's a whole other matter but I don't really see that in my future.

kayf · 07-15-2009, 09:36 AM

Talk to your lawyer immediately. In my state, its generally not 6 month probation, but an ajournament in contemplation of dismisall (the lawyers call it an ACD). While this may seem like the same thing to you it is not. If you have no further charges in 6 months, the original charge is dismissed, and the file is sealed, and it is if you were never arrested, ie never charged. To get at the record requires a court order, which is not easy to obtain. Your fingerprints do not to the FBI database.

Were you parents aware/involved with legal process -- if yes, talk to them first. My guess (as a mom) is that your parents did there best to avoid you having a record of any type.

PackMom · 07-15-2009, 10:07 AM

S1 got a misdemeanor citation (underage possession of alcohol) while at college.
The deal in our state is that he had to take a drug/alcohol edu. class and go one year without getting in any more trouble. Then the charge was expunged from the record, same type thing kayf was talking about. Look up expungement in your state and see what the laws are or ask your lawyer if you have one.

Big Sis in NY · 07-15-2009, 10:11 AM

I wouldn't stress it so much. Plenty of people I know had DWIs and still got into law school and admitted to the bar. Find out what your record says and attach a mea culpa to your apps if they ask. All the law school apps I filled out said "have you ever been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic offense?" Also start looking at some B-school apps to get an idea of what they ask.

MomofWildChild · 07-15-2009, 12:22 PM

Make sure you get the record expunged. That could be important down the line.

scualum · 07-15-2009, 01:23 PM

Deal with this properly and stay out of additional trouble for the next year and you will have a clean record. This is not a time to be casual about things - make sure you get a lawyer and get the record expunged correctly.

kayf · 07-15-2009, 01:45 PM

My mistake -- I read this too quickly. Jfresh, you need a lawyer. And unless your parents are related to Atilla the hun, I would tell them. My guess is that they would much rather be helping clean up this mess now than have you have more problems later. But if you really really really cant tell your parents, call the courthouse and get the phone number for legal aid. Ask them if you agreee to proposed will your record go away.

NewHope33 · 07-15-2009, 02:56 PM

OP - Sorry for your troubles. I agree with the above posters ... don't fret, but don't be complacent either. Make sure the violation gets expunged.

mantori.suzuki · 07-15-2009, 03:09 PM

Instead of business, you could go to law school, graduate first in your class, go into Constitutional law, then become the one who finally overturns the laws that threaten to ruin a young person's career over something as inconsequential as marijuana possession.

Jahaba · 01-16-2010, 05:43 PM

Alternatively, you can apply to Wizardry School, graduate summa cum laude, study dark magic, and become a powerful sorcerer who can turn all marijuana into hemp.

momofthreeboys · 01-16-2010, 06:59 PM

I would definitely agree that you should talk to a lawyer. In Michigan, one must wait 5 years from the date of the sentence before even filing for expungement. States are different. Please find out what this all means to you relative to your state and what your options are.

Consolation · 01-16-2010, 09:07 PM

I am totally with you, Mantori.Suziki in #9. Nevertheless, getting a lawyer and making sure that this will be expunged is VERY important.

If it helps, people I know who were busted in the 70s are now attorneys, dentists, and MBA actuaries.

Erin's Dad · 01-16-2010, 10:43 PM

I hope the OP has this figured out since the OP was six months ago.

romanigypsyeyes · 01-17-2010, 12:40 AM

Quote:

In Michigan, one must wait 5 years from the date of the sentence before even filing for expungement.

Hmm... I have to question that just from personal experience. Perhaps it is on a more serious offense or not a first time offense? My bf was 19 when he got caught with pot (we're in Michigan). Just got off of one year probation and now his record is automatically expunged because of the first-time offender program he went through (classes, AA and NA meetings, drug tests, fine... I think that's it).

MomofWildChild · 01-17-2010, 09:20 AM

roman- I would check into that "automatically expunged". I know states vary, but my experience is that expungement requires some fairly extensive paperwork and legal filings.