Dear all
I am a international study who are study in Canada.
the things that happened May.1, 2010
I went to sears at one local mall, suppose to buy some underwear.
there is six underwear which hard to carry it. I was putting the underwear in my shopping bag and going to find cashier.
but I am lost, so I went out of store, the security guy shows up and carry me to a room
I was trying to explain the situation but the guy just directly to call police.
the police came and take some notes. than he gave me a yellow ticket which ask me to go for court.
he said "you probably do not need to go court, someone will call you to do a program".
I was so scared, so I asked police what should I do and is there any criminal recode will leave and affect my study prime, us visa or finding job.
the police said " there is nothing left, because this is the first time, so it is just like a warning, there is only one recode will leave on one list of the police officer in this city"
then I go back to home, search a lot of information online, I understand the program which police told to me is called diversion program.
If you did a diversion program, the court will withdraw the charge. you have no criminal recode.
I am going to my university to ask my international study adviser, she said do not need to hire a lawyer right now.
I Called Legal AID suppose to ask a lawyer to help me with that, but the agent from that said you can not do it right now(i do not understand the reason)
I have several questions here, hope nice people can answer me
1. If I did the diversion program, is that means I just plead guilty, but I actually not suppose to steal anything.
but the police said the diversion program will automatic to take effect.
2. I got information which said there is always a criminal background I had even if the charge is withdraw or dismissed
there is no criminal recode, but have a bad criminal background forever.
3. is the recode of police or court will affect my study prime, us visa, work visa and finding job?
(I did not took fingerprint and photo)
4. I suppose to apply the us tourism visa soon.
should i disclose the criminal information in the application form(actually there is no conviction)
5. should I hire a lawyer who can deal with all the problem I have.
I am a international study who are study in Canada.
the things that happened May.1, 2010
I went to sears at one local mall, suppose to buy some underwear.
there is six underwear which hard to carry it. I was putting the underwear in my shopping bag and going to find cashier.
but I am lost, so I went out of store, the security guy shows up and carry me to a room
I was trying to explain the situation but the guy just directly to call police.
the police came and take some notes. than he gave me a yellow ticket which ask me to go for court.
he said "you probably do not need to go court, someone will call you to do a program".
I was so scared, so I asked police what should I do and is there any criminal recode will leave and affect my study prime, us visa or finding job.
the police said " there is nothing left, because this is the first time, so it is just like a warning, there is only one recode will leave on one list of the police officer in this city"
then I go back to home, search a lot of information online, I understand the program which police told to me is called diversion program.
If you did a diversion program, the court will withdraw the charge. you have no criminal recode.
I am going to my university to ask my international study adviser, she said do not need to hire a lawyer right now.
I Called Legal AID suppose to ask a lawyer to help me with that, but the agent from that said you can not do it right now(i do not understand the reason)
I have several questions here, hope nice people can answer me
1. If I did the diversion program, is that means I just plead guilty, but I actually not suppose to steal anything.
but the police said the diversion program will automatic to take effect.
2. I got information which said there is always a criminal background I had even if the charge is withdraw or dismissed
there is no criminal recode, but have a bad criminal background forever.
3. is the recode of police or court will affect my study prime, us visa, work visa and finding job?
(I did not took fingerprint and photo)
4. I suppose to apply the us tourism visa soon.
should i disclose the criminal information in the application form(actually there is no conviction)
5. should I hire a lawyer who can deal with all the problem I have.