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In 1997 I was charged with two felonies: car larceny and receiving stolen property $0 - $100. I voluntarily admitted guilt to the police and was granted Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA) status. As part of my plea and HYTA status, I was placed on monthly probation, was subjected to monthly drug tests, and was assigned 50 hours of community service in addition to restitution. After the successful completion of these requirements, my guilty plea was deferred, charges were dismissed and my record sealed.

[...]all schools ask that a "yes" answer be followed up with "details." What we mean is—what did you do? We want the story, the narrative—not a citation to the section of the state code you violated. I mean, you're welcome to provide that too, but if that's all you provide, you're missing the point, and you end up sounding defensive and evasive. Tell me, "In my first year of college, on the second day of orientation, I went to a fraternity party with everyone on my floor. They served beer, and I drank it. When I left the fraternity house, I walked straight into the arms of the local police, who were waiting for naïfs like myself. In retrospect, attending that party was monumentally poor decisionmaking on my part. I pleaded guilty, did yada yada yada in the way of punishment, and learned several important lessons." Telling me, "On August 25, 2009, I was charged with violation of Section 436.170 under the Michigan Liquor Control Code of 1998, Purchase, consumption, or possession of alcoholic liquor by minor. I pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to blah blah blah as punishment, and have had no prior criminal convictions since that time," is not telling me anything particularly illuminating.

just8250 wrote:Thank you all, I feel like your advice is correct and I should have a detailed account for the crime itself. To Xs20 post from Sarah Zearfoss and anyone else who wishes to comment, what is the best way to include the details?