I have never been arrested or to jail until two days ago. I was arrested for shoplifting $80 worth of stuff which is a misdemeanor. I was wondering if I needed a lawyer with me in court in order to get this offense removed from my record and/or to not face jail time or other severe punishment.
Answer
The quick answer is YES. Lawyers provide a valuable legal service. You can't address your record until your case is dismissed. Failing to obtain a dismissal will result in you having a criminal record for life. Even after you have obtained a dismissal of the charge, you must wait a full two (2) years from the date of your arrest before you can file a Petition for Expungement. If you receive probation, you will NOT be able to expunge your record.
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