What Happens if You Go to Juvenile Court for Shoplifting

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Michigan

Yesterday I was caught stealing $74 worth of jewelry at a khols store. They took me and my mother (who had no idea what was going on) and we talked about my consequences. They told me I would be paying $200 to the store and I thought that would be it and I vowed to never do such a thing again.

Then the security lady called the police. They came and got my information and said they would be sending me some letters in the mail for a fine and a court date. I was wondering what I should expect from this?

What kind of charge will this be?
Will this be seen on my records for college?
How can I get this expunged?
I have been reading something about "pretrial diversion"... is this a good thing? And how do I go about it?
What do I plead?

I really appreciate any feed back as soon as possible. My family and I are distraught...

Thank you so much in advance.

The court will consider your home, school, community, and prior court and police records, and will attempt to formulate a disposition that is likely to result in your rehabilitation. If you want to know what the judge to which your case is assigned is likely to do with your case, based upon the facts of your case and the judge's treatment of similar cases, have your parents help you consult a local lawyer who handles juvenile criminal matters in that court.

A juvenile court record is, for most purposes, nonpublic. If you get a disposition (the juvenile court equivalent of being convicted, although it's not technically a conviction), you are eligible to petition for an expungement after five years or once you reach the age of 24. If you do not get a disposition, in most cases your record will be automatically expunged shortly after your 17th birthday.

Thank you very much, Mr. Knowitall.

I do have a few more questions.

I have a very nice home life. I do not have a record nor have I ever been to court. I am an A and B student, I take challenging courses and push myself in school. I am going to start counseling soon, my mom is signing me up for some volunteer work at the church and I am hopefully going to get involved in volunteering at a nursing home in the next week or so. Will these things help my case?

Another thing, can you tell me more about this "disposition"? Is it likely that I will get one?
Also, I will be 17 in 3 months... is that too soon for it to be expunged by then?

My family does not have the money for a lawyer, can you suggest anything else?

Thank you again.

I am an A and B student, I take challenging courses and push myself in school. I am going to start counseling soon, my mom is signing me up for some volunteer work at the church and I am hopefully going to get involved in volunteering at a nursing home in the next week or so. Will these things help my case?

Do not try to rely on things like this to get you out of this. You get As and Bs? Then you're smart enough to know better. You go to church? Then you've been taught better.

Excuse me but being rude is not going to make this better for me and it sure as hell isn't going to make your life any better.

I can honestly say I am not sure why I did this... I think the counseling is going to help me figure out why. I recently changed schools and have 0 friends. I have had signs of depression on and off for a few years. Im not sure if this was me lashing out or what but it is not in my nature whatsoever.

I am honestly remorseful and I want the court, God and my parents to know that.

And PLEASE do not throw stones at me because I am pretty sure you are not without sin.

There was nothing rude in my post, nor was anyone throwing stones. You asked if these things would help your case; I told you why they would not. That's all.

I am sorry. Tone is hard to figure out from writing. I am just extremely scared. I had really great things going for me and I'm trying to figure out what to do.

How would it not help? If I can show the judge that my rehabilitation has already commenced, I don't think that would hurt my case. I am trying to do everything I can because there is no way that my parents would be able to afford a lawyer and they won't let me get a job to help because they don't want my grades to lower (I have the best parents in the world and I'm putting them through complete hell and I hate myself for that).

I am just asking for any help I can get and what I should do in court because I am 100% dumbfounded about the etiquette for this sort of thing.

You might get lucky with your judge, who knows? What I am saying is that you can't count on a judge looking at your activities and your grades and deciding to give you a break. He might, but then again he might look at things the way I suggested he might.

Okay I understand that.

Can someone please explain to me what a disposition is? What it consists of and how likely is it that I will get one?

And what should I plead? My parents said I should just plead guilty but what I have been reading online says otherwise???
I am just confused by all of this information and I have resorted to online research which is not something I like but I don't have the money for a lawyer.

My advice is to plead not guilty. That is not saying, I didn't do it; that is saying, I am standing on my right to have the state prove me guilty.

Besides which, in some states (I don't know for sure about yours - someone else may) if you plead guilty the judge has no discretion over what sentence you get, whereas with a not guilty plea he does.

Would I then need a lawyer?

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Also, would that extend the trial? And could it in the end actually make things worse?

If I thought it would make things worse, would I recommend it to you?

Well...

Couldn't the judge give me a bigger sentence because its up to him?