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Hi everyone,

I was arrested for shoplifting when I was 16. It was a one-time juvenile thing. Do I address it in terms of "shoplifting", or do I include the exact penal code section I was arrested under? When the DA filed my case, the charges were changed slightly. Do I indicate the exact penal code sections of this as well? And do I need to indicate if they were felony or misdemeanor charges?

The case ended up getting dismissed, so I'm confused about how specific I need to be. Not trying to avoid disclosure or anything like that, just unsure of what is important and what is superfluous.

Thanks for any help!

Be brief, but thorough. No need to cite specific penal code sections, but it's okay to do so.

Consider: I was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor shoplifting when I was 16 years old. The charge was dismissed.

If the charge was dismissed as part of a plea bargain under, for example, a first offender statute, then that should be briefly noted. Otherwise, just state that the case was dismissed.

No, it was dismissed on its own accord -- no plea bargain or deferred entry of judgment.

However, though the arrest was for a misdemeanor charge, when the case was filed, a felony charge was added. How do I/should I discuss this?

Thanks so much for the help!

Depends upon what the felony charge.