Furnishing Alcohol to Minors
My question involves criminal law for the state of: Massachusetts.
Im 19 and had a party with alcohol that got busted by the cops. I was extremely respectful and abided by everything that the officers had asked of me. I received a summons in the mail with the charge of furnishing alcohol to minors. I have a clean record and wanted to know how this could potentially play out in court?
Re: Furnishing Alcohol to Minors
The same as with any other crime. Most likely you attempt to plea bargain, you work out a deal, enter a guilty plea or diversion plan contingent on that deal, then serve out the terms of the deferral, deferred sentence or sentence, most likely fines and court assessments, probation and possibly community service.
Re: Furnishing Alcohol to Minors
You shouldn't have received a summons to appear for an arraignment--it should be for what's called a clerk's hearing or "show cause" hearing, which means you haven't been formally charged. The hearing is where it's discussed as to whether you will be formally charged.
Have you told your parents? An entry on your "record" (CORI) can have a devastating effect on future employment. If you're considering going into a field that may pull your record, you shouldn't take this lightly at all. Don't worry about going to jail--but there are things that can be done to keep it off your record completely--at the clerk's hearing stage.