I got caught shoplifting today and it is my first offense. I was caught lifting $241 and the police handcuffed/fingerprinted/took a picture of me at the station.
My court date to plead guilty/not is in 2 weeks. What happens next?
My family cannot afford an attorney/lawyer. When is the appropriate time to ask for a court appointed one? - when I give my plea? Or before?
Also will an appointed attorney/lawyer (to be honest, I don't know anything about the law. I don't know what the difference is between the two people) help me? Or sway my decisions to how the state/court would want it to be? Are court-appointed ones free? Or just cheaper?
How should I plea? Again, this is my first time getting caught shoplifting, but in my bag they (the store who caught me, not the police) found clothes I had lifted from a previous store. The store that caught me only said that they would be returning those clothes. But would I get a greater charge? The police don't seem to know about the clothes, however.
How many years do I wait until I can expunge my record? Will I definitely get something on my record? What is the usual charge for something like this?
Sorry for the questions but I am extremely nervous.
Lastly, how should I dress for court? I am a female.
My court date to plead guilty/not is in 2 weeks. What happens next?
My family cannot afford an attorney/lawyer. When is the appropriate time to ask for a court appointed one? - when I give my plea? Or before?
Also will an appointed attorney/lawyer (to be honest, I don't know anything about the law. I don't know what the difference is between the two people) help me? Or sway my decisions to how the state/court would want it to be? Are court-appointed ones free? Or just cheaper?
How should I plea? Again, this is my first time getting caught shoplifting, but in my bag they (the store who caught me, not the police) found clothes I had lifted from a previous store. The store that caught me only said that they would be returning those clothes. But would I get a greater charge? The police don't seem to know about the clothes, however.
How many years do I wait until I can expunge my record? Will I definitely get something on my record? What is the usual charge for something like this?
Sorry for the questions but I am extremely nervous.
Lastly, how should I dress for court? I am a female.
